Celtic are in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
On Sunday, Celtic were deservedly beaten at Hearts, as Derek McInnes’ side went eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table.
The demise of this Celtic side, and its quality, is ‘alarming’, according to Ally McCoist, and not many players can hold their heads up high.
The former striker also brought Rangers into the equation, amid their struggles for a long time, explaining why Callum McGregor stands on his own.
Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates after teammate Kyogo Furuhashi scores the team's second goal during the Viaplay Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park
Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Callum McGregor could play in the Premier League amid Celtic’s loss to Hearts
At the age of 32, McGregor is heading past his peak years, but that doesn’t mean Celtic aren’t relying on his talents every week.
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist explained why the Celtic skipper is the only one, from both sides of Glasgow, who can play in the English Premier League.
Jeff Stelling: “I was looking at the teams, and I was watching some of the games on Sunday. Is there anybody in the Rangers or the Celtic squad. I look back at the great players of Scotland over the years.
“Is there anybody in the current Rangers or Celtic squads who could cut the mustard in the Premier League?”
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McCoist: “No, maybe Callum McGregor. Callum could play, but then, the problem that Celtic and Brendan have got now is.
“I am looking at the Celtic team. Donovan. Murray. Scales. Tierney. With the greatest of respect, it’s not scaring you. Midfield is Engels. Hatate is a good player. And Callum is there.
“But what teams are doing now, and it took Rangers long enough, by the way, I need to tell you. When they are playing, just stick somebody on Callum, because Callum makes them tick. He is a very good football player, particularly if you sit back and let him play.
“But he is an even better player, with better players around him. I don’t think he has got that, at this moment in time at Celtic, so that’s one of the problems Celtic have got.”
The ‘demise’ of Celtic and Rangers
Scottish football is financially worlds away from the rest of Europe, and mainly the English Premier League.
That’s going to have an impact on what is out on the pitch, as McCoist made it clear that the fall in quality isn’t just a ‘drop off a cliff.’
“The demise in the Celtic and Rangers squads (over the decades) is absolutely alarming,” said McCoist. “It’s dropped off a cliff, not fallen away. It has completely dropped off a cliff.”