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‘Not exceptional’: David Provan plays down Rangers hype and makes negative Ibrox comparison

Rangers may have breezed to this year’s Scottish Premiership title with the minimum of fuss, but not everyone’s entirely convinced by them.

With just three games left to play Rangers remain unbeaten, having won two out of three derbies and conceded just 12 goals in 35 matches while accumulating a 20-point lead.

David Provan, however, says the current crop of Ibrox stars cannot be held in the same regard as Dick Advocaat’s side of the late ’90s and early ’00s.

The Dutchman inherited a Rangers team who had just missed out on 10-in-a-row, and he ended his first season as a treble-winner.

A number of star names featured in his squad, and Celtic legend Provan insists Steven Gerrard’s success has been built on coaching and attitude rather than sheer talent.

Writing in his column on Sunday, he claimed his former side are capable of catching Gerrard’s men next season.

Provan said: “If (Dominic) McKay gets a manager in now, along with a head of recruitment, he can still have Celts ready for next season.

“I don’t buy the idea that Rangers are uncatchable.

“Steven Gerrard has squeezed every ounce from his group. They’ve been well-coached, motivated and hungrier than Celtic.

“But if this is a decent Gers side, it isn’t exceptional. Slavia Prague outclassed them.

“Put it this way, how many of Gerrard’s players would have got a sniff of Dick Advocaat’s team-sheet when Ronald de Boer, Arthur Numan, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Jorg Albertz, Barry Ferguson, Lorenzo Amoruso, Marco Negri and Tugay were the standard?

“Sure, Rangers deserve to be title favourites next season, but things can change very quickly in this business.

“Advocaat himself would vouch for that.”

Rangers continue their bid for a domestic double this evening when they take on St Johnstone at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.