Petrov says Gers not big force

Celtic: Former Hoops midfielder says Rangers ‘not one of the biggest clubs’

Stiliyan Petrov has claimed Rangers are no longer a big club after their latest humiliation at the hands of Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were 4-0 winners of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday, their 13th Old Firm meeting unbeaten.

It has been another season of turmoil for the Ibrox club, who sacked manager Pedro Caixinha earlier in the season before failing to lure primary target Derek Mcinnes away from Aberdeen, which resulted in Graeme Murty taking the job until the end of the season.

The club have suspended experienced duo Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace after an alleged exchange with the manager and have fared little better on the pitch in recent weeks with just one win in their previous five matches.

That has seen them drawn into a battle for the top three by Aberdeen and Hibernian.

“At the moment, if you look at it, people don’t take Rangers as a threat; it’s more Aberdeen or Hibs. Rangers are not one of the biggest clubs,” said Petrov at the John Hartson Foundation Annual Golf Day.

“People always say Celtic v Rangers will always be one of the big rivalries but, if Rangers don’t challenge, it will lose its intensity and it’s important for Scotland.

“That’s what Scottish football is all about, the Old Firm, and that’s why people all around the world love Scottish football. If that doesn’t come back, it will be very difficult for Scottish football to recover.”

The former Hoops midfielder does not see Murty as the man to close the gap on Celtic, who are set for a seventh league title in a row, but is keen to see the competition between the two improve.

He said: “I think it’s still a big gap and a long way to go for Rangers.

“As a Celtic fan I am delighted because more success for Celtic is better, but it’s not healthy for Scottish football and Celtic as well because they need someone to compete with.

“One big club in a competition is not interesting. You need another few clubs to compete and make sure the league will improve, but at the moment it’s just a one-horse race,” he said.

“At the moment Celtic can drop 10-15 points without a problem and still be champions.”

Picture: SNS. Former Celtic stars Stiliyan Petrov and John Hartson promote the John Hartson Foundation Annual Golf Day, where the proceeds will go toward the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.