Rangers and Celtic’s rivalry will be even more intense this season with automatic Champions League qualification.
That’s according to record Gers signing Tore Andre Flo, who insists that whoever comes out on top will have a huge financial advantage.
Both clubs will have to earn their place in the group stages this season. Ange Postecoglou’s side have a crunch qualifying second leg against FC Midtjylland tomorrow while Steven Gerrard’s men will face either Malmo or HJK in the next round.
Next year however, the Scottish Premiership champions will go straight into the lucrative group stages and Flo is predicting an almighty battle to get what would be a massive financial leg up.
He told Gambling.com: “That puts the stakes to another level. Automatic qualification next year would be massive for either club and whoever gets it will take a huge advantage over their rival from there.
“It’s not just the economics of it all, it’s also the experience of playing against better teams, learning from them, that’s what Champions League football also offers you.
“But of course, being in the Champions League helps attract interest from more players too.”
Flo was hugely impressed with Rangers’ Europa League run last year, when they were knocked out in the last 16 by Slavia Prague.
He’d love to see them back in the Champions League proper although acknowledges that could be tough ask.
However, if it is to be the Europa League once again, he can see them improving on last season’s campaign.
He added: “First of all, I have to say I was very, very impressed with Rangers last season, it was so good.
“From here, I hope they can build on that but I’m sure Celtic will be eager to catch up again as quickly as possible, although Rangers have built themselves a really good base to work from.
“They have a very good group of players and a good manager so everyone is pulling in the right direction and I think the club is in a much healthier position now.
“They could look to go further in Europe. They did reasonably well last season and I think they could go even further this year. Getting back into the Champions League would be a huge step, but it’s a very tough ask.”
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