‘Not even Pep Guardiola could save them’ – Celtic legend blasts Rangers

Former Celtic striker John Hartson has said that not even Manchester City's Premier League winning manager Pep Guardiola could save Rangers.

The Gers were trounced 5-0 by Celtic on Sunday as the Hoops cruised to a seventh consecutive Scottish Premiership title. Rangers have been linked with a move for former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Hartson said that the club were 'embarrassing' in the loss to their Old Firm rivals.

“Pep Guardiola couldn’t do that,” said Hartson after attending the PFA Scotland awards. “Rangers are dire. They were embarrassing in the semi-final, their most senior players were embarrassing. Sunday, they were embarrassing. “It’s a mismatch at the minute. Rangers are in turmoil, on and off the pitch. They need serious investment. They need a lot of things. Celtic are flying on and off the pitch. They are a long, long way behind. “Steven Gerrard will look at that and he’ll say, if he takes Rangers, ‘I can only go one way, and that’s up’. They can’t get any worse. And that’s why if he took the job I don’t think it would do him any harm. He is going to a great club with huge backing, fans-wise.”

Hartson added that he views the Rangers job as a wonderful opportunity for Gerrard and that he doesn't think making the move would do him any damage if he was to endure similar experiences to the club's last two managers. “It’s up to Steven whether he wants to wait another four years and work with the young players at Liverpool,” Hartson added. “Maybe he might get an opportunity to manage the Liverpool first team, there are no guarantees, if Klopp decides to go away. “I see it as a wonderful opportunity. He can only take them up, he can’t make them any worse. “I think there will always be a place at Liverpool for Gerrard, so if he fails drastically like the last two managers, Murty and (Pedro) Caixinha, then I don’t think it will damage him too much. Because Pep Guardiola couldn’t improve Rangers at the minute. I don’t think they have the quality within that group.”