Celtic handed ‘big’ boost as ‘high-stakes’ Rangers news confirmed – Hutton
Alan Hutton has claimed Celtic and Rangers will want benefit from having each other in the Champions League.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender said competition from the Ibrox club will help motivate the Hoops to do well.
Ange Postecoglou’s side received automatic qualification for the group stage of the competition after winning the Scottish Premiership last season.
Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 on Wednesday (24 August) in the second leg of their playoff tie to secure a place in the next round of the competition.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side drew 2-2 with the Dutch club in the first leg of the competition.
Rangers will take on Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax in the next round of the competition.
The Bhoys’ group includes Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig.
When asked if having their rivals in the competition will help Celtic to do well in the group stages, Hutton told Football Insider: “Yes of course.
“There’s always that competition in Glasgow with the big teams, that’s never going to go away. Whether it be the league, Champions League, they want to outdo each other.
“I think the money that’s coming in to both teams gives them the opportunity to strengthen in the areas that they see fit so it’s only going to make them better.
“So the competition is going to be high, the stakes are high and both teams will want to do well. It’s very tough for them but of course both teams will want to go as far as possible.“
In other news, a pundit has backed Christopher Jullien and Celtic teammate to exit as medical reported.