Ahead of Rangers’ attempts to win the title last season, I wrote that I felt that Celtic were in a state of decline and that Rangers had a chance of winning the title if they could hold on to Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier.
Those two players had seen it all — they were there when Rangers were embarrassed 5-1 at home by Celtic when Pedro Caixinha was in charge and had seen it under Graeme Murty’s Rangers lost in humiliating fashion, meaning Celtic marched to another title.
But now the two players who have been mocked to the nth degree are now sitting as Champions. And of course, it was supposed to be the season in which they were bound to fail again because the title was supposed to be a precession and 10 in a row would happen.
Instead, it was a precession, but instead after 10 years of hurt, title number 55 is won. It’s been a long journey for the supporters, who continually backed the club at every turn, believing that this was our time. It’s our time now. And we deserve it.
This title would not be possible if it weren’t for Steven Gerrard, his backroom team and those players, many of whom have had their mentality questioned from all angles, but right from day one at Aberdeen — this season felt different.
Rangers had this renewed sense of belief and a steely focus which would lead them to win this title at a canter. Of course there are many games you can look to and periods of time during the season that can be looked back upon as statement wins: Celtic in October and then the 15 game run that started and ended with Motherwell in January.
Additionally, the win at Ibrox over Celtic when not having a shot on target and the Motherwell win at Ibrox after the St Mirren cup defeat.
It shows the change in mentality in this squad; they always had the ability to win a title but with the ability they had to marry that with the consistency that eluded them for the previous two seasons under Gerrard and they knocked it out of the park.
They got in front and never looked back, meaning this is the earliest title win in a 38-game season — beating Neil Lennon’s Celtic who won it on 26 March 2014 — when 10 in a row was very much still on.
There are no Lustig in police hats, no chants of 10 in a row anymore. The mocking and sneering has gone too. Instead, it’s Rangers and Gerrard’s time to shine and take the plaudits.
His team are unbeaten in the league in a full year, unbeaten in 32 league matches, have conceded just nine goals and have shown a remarkable ruthless streak, something no one seen coming after that Hamilton match last March.
Many will underplay this title and underplay how well Rangers have played and how quickly they wrapped up this title. And use Celtic falling flat on their face as an excuse.
Rangers recruited better, are better coached and have a better squad of players and have a footballing identity. That’s what made the difference.
They often asked “Can you see the Rangers coming?” They can now and best of all for the Rangers support, it’s killed the history they were all craving. Forget the nonsense about quadruple trebles; it was all about the 10 and Rangers have killed it stone dead and we’re not even in the middle of March. There are months of gloating and celebrations left in this season yet.
Rangers still have the Europa League and Scottish Cup to play for and the season which already has been a memorable one has the potential to get even better.
It’s all down to Steven Gerrard; he’s pulled this club up with the bootstraps and has everyone pulling in the one direction. He’s come in and it’s taken time, maybe more than he and some fans would have liked.
He will be up there in the hearts of the supporters for this title win.
