Just five games into the new Scottish Premiership season, the title race might already be mathematically alive, but according to one iconic former World Cup winner, the mental and physical damage at Ibrox is already insurmountable.
In a stunning and controversial verdict, former Arsenal Invincible and French legend Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Rangers have effectively lost the league title already, warning that Derek McInnes’ side could even find themselves dragged into a bitter dogfight with Hearts just to secure second place.
An Injury Crisis Compounding Managerial Instability
While a five-game sample size would typically be far too early to write off any major contender, Petit points to a compounding cocktail of instability and a crippling injury list as the fatal flaws derailing Rangers’ campaign before it can truly gather momentum.
Rangers are currently forced to navigate a brutal stretch of fixtures without their primary attacking firepower. First-choice strikers Youssef Chermiti and Lawrence Shankland are both sidelined for the foreseeable future, with Chermiti facing a lengthy rehabilitation stint and Shankland not expected to return to action until the New Year. Compounding matters further, Daisuke Yokota is booked in for surgery, leaving the squad stretched thin despite left-back Tuur Rommens recently managing a return to full training.
Weighing in on the structural issues plaguing the club, Petit didn’t hold back when evaluating the broader picture at Ibrox.
”Rangers have changed managers so many times recently, but stability is something that is really important,” Petit explained. “Honestly, when you look at the teams who win league titles every season, they all have stability. Celtic have had a perfect start to the season, so I think the way it is going, the title will be theirs again. Maybe Hearts will finish second too.”
”Rangers? I don’t see them as part of the picture. Too many injured players. They’ve already fallen off. It’s a pity for Derek McInnes.”
The Shadow of Celtic and the Battle for Second
Petit’s blunt assessment highlights a harsh reality for the Gers. While Celtic have flown out of the blocks with a flawless domestic start, establishing a commanding rhythm under Martin O’Neill, Rangers are already fighting an uphill battle to keep pace.
For Derek McInnes, the immediate task is keeping the squad competitive while patching together an XI capable of surviving until the January transfer window opens. However, with the physical toll mounting and the gap at the top threatening to widen before the autumn leaves even fall, the margin for error has evaporated entirely.
Whether Petit’s early-season prediction proves to be prophetic or merely bulletin board material that fires up the Ibrox dressing room, all eyes will be locked on how Rangers respond when they next take to the pitch. One thing is certain: the pressure in Glasgow has reached a boiling point, and the margin for survival in the title race is officially razor-thin.
