Celtic will have the chance to win their 10th domestic title in a row on Sunday when they take Rangers on in the Betfred Cup final. Rangers have undoubtedly emerged as the challengers in the last one year, and Steven Gerrard deserves some credit in making the Premiership more competitive.
Ally McCoist has his say on the final
Former Scotland striker and Rangers legend Ally McCoist though believe that the Bears still have some way to go in matching the Hoops and he picked Lennon’s men as the favourite for the final. Celtic have been relentless in recent years in Scottish football, and McCoist believes that the Hoops have more matchwinners at their disposal.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McCoist said, ”You would probably think that Celtic maybe have a slight edge just due to the fact that they have won so many trophies in a row recently. They will probably, in my eyes, start slight favourites as they probably have more matchwinners in their squad than Rangers.”
Last time when the two teams met in the Premiership, Rangers were being seen as the favourites due to the injury crisis which Celtic were facing. However, the Hoops still managed to win the tie 2-0 at Ibrox, and it cannot be ignored that having players who have regularly played at big occasions in the last few years gives them that edge.
Rangers and Gerrard are in unchartered territory as this is the club’s first Cup final in eight years and the first of Gerrard’s short managerial career. Neil Lennon has players who can stand up on big occasions and here are three players who can be the match winners for the Bhoys.
Ryan Christie
The Scotsman has managed to revive his career at Parkhead in the past one year, and he is one of the first names on the teamsheet now. His energy, ability to cover ground and stretch play makes it hard for defenders to mark him. He also has a hammer of a left foot and will undoubtedly be one of the chief threats for the Bears.
James Forrest
The winger hasn’t had the best of the season so far, but Rangers or anyone will be foolish to count him out in the final. His ability to drive the ball forward with intensity, pace and his directness could spell danger for Rangers. His finishing in and around the box is also impressive, and he has won a whopping 17 titles with Celtic.
Odsonne Edouard
One of the primary reasons why some fans rate Edouard over Morelos at the moment is Edouard’s ability to turn up on big occasions. The French striker has made seven appearances against Rangers out of which five were from the start. The 21-year-old has five goals and two assists to his name vs the Bears, and it cannot be ignored that he would once again be crucial for his side. His pace, strength, link-up play and ability to go on marauding runs would certainly give that Rangers backline nightmare. With Lennon claiming that Edouard has an excellent chance to start, the stage is once again set for the big man to steal the show.
