Former Celtic and Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas joined Wednesday's OTB AM to discuss all things football.
The Scottish Premiership returned over the weekend as Celtic began their push for a record tenth title in a row. Nevertheless, former Scottish international Charlie Nicholas isn't expecting it to be a procession for Neil Lennon's side.
"Rangers have closed the gap," he argued on Wednesday's OTB AM, contrary to what some other former Celtic strikers have been saying in recent days.
"Celtic have had it easy and have been too good for nine solid years but last year there was a threat. The way it stands now, I wouldn’t say it's a certainty that Celtic win the title."
A fan of Steven Gerrard and what he has achieved with Rangers, Nicholas' outlook on the divide between both Old Firm clubs differed to that of John Hartson who claimed Gerrard has not been successful in management so far in conversation with Off The Ball.
"I know John [Hartson] and Chris Sutton and all the other ex-players have been saying that quite regularly now that they work for Celtic TV," joked Nicholas, "[but Gerrard] has improved them, no matter what the hardcore say, he has improved them.
"When Gerrard took over, they weren’t even the second best team. Aberdeen were better than them. He fills the stadium every week and there is no other manager who could’ve done that in the way that he's done it.
"They’re still in Europe on Thursday too and they will go out but that was a big return financially and big for their reputation.
"I see it getting closer [between Rangers and Celtic]. I see the team improving and I think that that is success."
Nicholas also believes that if Celtic were to lose Odsonne Edouard it would make it a very "even playing field".
"The danger for Celtic is that players now control the market," he remarked. "If Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, West Brom, these type of teams that are linked with Edouard could come in and entice him to go.
"At the moment, Celtic are in the driving seat because they have the knowledge, they have the will for it but Edouard is the key to it.
"If Edouard stays, they win ten-in-a-row. If he decides that he wants to take a deal, Celtic are then on an even level with Rangers and it could go either way."
You can watch back Charlie Nicholas' interview with OTB AM in full here.
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