When Rangers were demoted in 2012, many suggested that Celtic would also be diminished as a club. Celtic fans, enjoying their neighbours deserved comeuppance, tended to wave away such concerns. They'd be fine. Only Rangers would suffer.
In the years since Celtic's performance in European competition has dipped alarmingly (humiliatingly so in 2014) and even in Scotland their title winning margins have narrowed.
Edgar Davids, who was in Dublin yesterday promoting the 'International Champions Cup' game between Celtic and Barcelona, sided with the old 'Rangers were too big to fail after all' narrative when he pronounced that Celtic are 'nothing' without their city rivals.
Without Rangers, they are nothing. You need that rivalry. You need black and white, something old-fashioned like a very old rivalry.
I watch the games and I saw one glimpse that Rangers are going to be up in the top league again, so I was happy and delighted for them.
They are a big club. It also helps Celtic that they are back. You want those matches. They put the spotlight back on Scottish football.
Even if they don’t want to admit it, I think the fans of all the other clubs will be happy. They’ll want them there and they’ll want to beat them. They’ll want to show that they are better than them.
[The Scotsman]
