Jermain Defoe has expressed his disappointment that Rangers haven't progressed since his title-winning time at Ibrox, with Celtic now in the ascendancy.
The former Premier League star, who had stints with Spurs, Portsmouth, and Sunderland, joined Rangers on loan in 2019 before signing a pre-contract agreement to make the move permanent the next year. Under Steven Gerrard's management, Defoe was instrumental in preventing their fierce rivals from securing a historic 10 consecutive titles, as Rangers notched up an impressive 102 points.
But, since Defoe's departure in 2022, Celtic have bounced back, claiming three consecutive titles and are on the verge of a fourth. The 42-year-old has now opened up on this disappointment and what has frustrated him so.
"I was in a team where we won... it was 55 league titles. It was the special one, really," Defoe said, courtesy of bet365's new Sub On Play On product. "The one that the fans were craving - stop Celtic from doing 10 in a row, that sort of stuff.
"To have that experience, it was amazing. I still keep in contact with a lot of the people there at the club. Of course, when we won the league, with Steven, the squad that we had... And obviously, I left and Calvin Bassey left. Everyone sort of left and Gio came in and was so close to winning the European trophy.
"But then you just thought that the club would sort of kick on from then and sort of just dominate and go on and win the league every year. And it's just not happened. It's been frustrating to sit back and see.
"And even more recently, knocked out the cup and the gap between us and Celtic at the minute. The manager has just lost his job, which is part and parcel now. Especially at a club like that, where it's just all about winning.
"That's sort of like the demand, the pressure that you get from the board and the fans. You have to win. You know, if you come second, you might as well come last. That's the sort of like mentality up there."
Despite a significant 3-1 away victory in the Europa League against Fenerbahce last week, Barry Ferguson's team are lagging behind domestically and are currently 16 points adrift of their fierce rivals in the Premiership, with an Old Firm visit to Parkhead looming.
The ex-England man has given his backing to interim Rangers manager Ferguson, however, but he believes the role is a great opportunity for any permanent successor, reports the Daily Record.
"Barry Ferguson has gone in and you like to think that he will sort of do well from now to the end of the season and then see what direction the club goes in," he added. "But it is a huge football club, and whoever gets that job, you know, they're a lucky manager."
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