Ex-Ibrox Chairman Makes Celtic Champions League Claim

David Murray has said Celtic are a Europa League-standard club in a new interview, talking about the financial landscape of the Hoops and Rangers. The former Ibrox chairman appeared on the Graeme Souness Tackles podcast, with the topic turning to where Celtic and Rangers belong on the European stage.

Murray, who was in charge of Rangers for more than two decades, believes that neither side is of Champions League quality due to not having the income. The Celts.4 million in the bank despite losses after failing to reach the Champions League proper after a qualifying defeat to Kairat Almaty.

Players enter the pitch before the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Kairat and Celtic at Ortalyk stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Aug. (AP Photo/Alikhan Sariyev) "The fact of the matter is Rangers and Celtic, if they are being honest with themselves, are not Champions League clubs", Murray said.

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"Celtic's model, buy a player at 22, sell him, reinvest, sell, reinvest. That has not worked out too well.

Rangers, the same, not worked out too well. "I think they are aiming too high and don't have the funds.

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While the current Hoops playing squad's quality to compete at Europe's top level is up for debate, to say the club doesn't have the funds is questionable to say the least. This season saw Austrian side LASK knock the Hoops out at the same stage Almaty did.

Neither of those sides boast a higher income than Celtic, yet made history in qualifying for the Champions League for the very first time. The club model Murray refers to has been a success domestically for the champions, who also qualified for the Champions League Play-Off in 24/25, where they were knocked out by Bayern Munich at the death.

To say they don't have the income is a nonsense. "I think the fans have too much expectation in Rangers and Celtic to play at a higher level", Murray continued.

"I don't think they have got the financial wherewithal to do it." "It's difficult to compete in the Champions League with the pressure from the fans."