Petrov: Gerrard effect will help Celts get better

STILIYAN PETROV has dismissed the title claims of Rangers this season, stressing that the hype over the latest Ibrox revolution will only serve to sting Celtic into raising their game. The former Parkhead hero, in Glasgow this weekend to publicise ‘A Match For Cancer’ at Celtic Park next month, believes his club might have ‘taken their foot off the gas’ at stages last season.

While expecting the derby clashes between the rival pair to be closer and Steven Gerrard to instigate an improved effort from Rangers, Petrov is convinced it is at least a season too soon for a proper duel at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Petrov said: ‘Celtic have run away from teams such as Aberdeen and Hibs. So first of all it’s about Steven Gerrard competing against Aberdeen and Hibs. Then they need to go to Celtic. Okay, I don’t think it will be four or five nil against Rangers this season.

‘These games will be closer because, knowing Steven Gerrard, he will bring that fire and desire to win again. You can see that already in the last couple of games — they are more organised, stronger and fitter. They’ve signed some good players, too.

‘But challenging for the title? It’s still way too early for Rangers. Celtic are way too experienced and have a better and more balanced team. He knows that.

‘To compete with Celtic is a great privilege because they are a top team and they’ve shown it in the Champions League and in the Premiership for the last few years. Gerrard at Rangers is a positive change. ‘He has made it more interesting.’ In 2002/03, Petrov reached a UEFA Cup final with Celtic while caught up in a neckand-neck title race with Rangers. They returned from Seville to finish the season with a win, on 97 points but just one goal worse off than their rivals. Celtic won a title with just 82 points last term, with Aberdeen second and Rangers a dozen points adrift of top spot.

While Petrov has enjoyed the fun of Celtic racking up the titles, he’d love to witness a genuine challenge. For he believes that would bring out the best in Celtic, both at home and in the Champions League. ‘When you have a good team, you want to see them perform to a high level every single week,’ said Petrov.

‘The last couple of years Celtic have taken their foot off the gas for a few weeks. Now Rangers have brought in Gerrard and the way he works, they will need to push again.

‘You may now see an even better Celtic. The players will need to raise their level and their game. Having Gerrard at Rangers will make Celtic more competitive.

‘If Celtic make the Champions League they will need competitive games, and be pushed. It would be great to see them in the group stage but we want to see them go further.

‘They won’t be able to do that if they don’t have good competition domestically. When we went to the UEFA Cup final we lost the league by one goal. Rangers pushed us and that helped us in Europe.’

The relentless demands of the qualifying road to the Champions League mean much is being asked of Rodgers and those players this summer. Petrov (below) is appalled that his former club are now asked to navigate four rounds and eight matches before being granted a place among the elite.

As AEK Athens ramp up the standard of opposition in stage three, Petrov said: ‘Every year it is becoming more difficult,’ said the Bulgarian. ‘Celtic need to be at their best to beat AEK. But I think they’ll go through.

‘You would think the champions of Scotland would have an easier run. I don’t agree with it. Eight games is

wrong.’