Michael Beale and his troops go into the Old Firm clash on the back of a Champions League hammering by PSV as their dream of reaching Europe’s top table for the second successive season came to a thumping end

Graeme Souness explained why an Ibrox homecoming was never possible and claimed that Rangers just CANNOT lose to Celtic this weekend.

This summer, there was speculation of a stunning return to the Light Blues, but nothing happened. The 70-year-old has now acknowledged that he DID speak with the club’s leadership, but the role that was offered to him didn’t appeal to him. I am a Rangers supporter and If I felt I could help out in any way, I would get involved, he revealed exclusively to Glasgow Live Sport. We held chats, but I wasn’t interested in what was being offered. Just like that. Although I wanted to contribute, I didn’t find it appealing.

As their hopes of making it to the top table of Europe for a second straight season came to an abrupt end, PSV handed Michael Beale and his team a crushing defeat in the Champions League. The Light Blues will participate in the Europa League this year after losing 5-1 on the night and 7-3 overall.

Souness is aware of the extremely difficult task the Glasgow opponents have on the European stage given the vast disparity in funds. When they play at home, that is the opposite; yet, on the continent, he has called the gap “enormous.” He also mentioned Bournemouth, his hometown team, and how they have a lot more money to spend than Rangers and Celtic doonly a tiny portion of the size. The Light Blues advanced all the way to the Europa League final a couple of years ago, and while the 70-year-old is confident they can make an impact, they will once again face some extremely strong competition, so it might be challenging.

The first Old Firm derby of the season, in which Brendan Rodgers and his team travel to Ibrox, is currently the biggest game for Beale and company, but there are many others.

Souness thinks it’s the ideal game to react to, but they really can’t afford to lose.

Yes, in many ways it is, he replied. The Rangers fans will show up, disregard the midweek outcome, and attend the game at Ibrox. The sole focus will be on fostering a climate that will support their team’s victory over Celtic. They cannot lose the game. Both Rangers and Celtic are playing in major games right now.

“I think back to my time there as a manager, and my experience of working in Scotland was that even if you were playing the best football, Celtic would still win the game. You may have drew or lost an Old Firm game, but you are still doing well. Celtic, on the other hand, may not be performing as well, but they are playing with a free spirit because they are second to you, and in people’s minds, you are not performing well. Being No. 1 in Scotland and maintaining that position is everything. By doing so, you are avoiding the criticism. It can be difficult for some people to handle. It’s crucial to avoid dropping the opening Old Firm match.

On the European gulf, he added: “The teams that win the leagues have the best players and generally the biggest budgets. So Rangers right now we don’t have that when we go and compete with European teams. Our Champions League record was not good last season but you are playing against teams that have one player that cost more than the whole squad.

“And that is in reversal when you get back to the Scottish league itself. I can remember we had one player who was worth more than the whole squad we played against. It is reverse from them when they go into Europe. It was always going to be difficult but disappointing to go out of the Champions League having conceded five goals.

“I think Celtic, like Rangers, have had a tough time in European football but the gulf is enormous. The budget that both work to is very different to any team. I live in Bournemouth and they have zillions to spend on players compared to Rangers and Celtic and in terms of football clubs you have a tiny little football club on the south coast compared to two giants that are in Glasgow. That’s the way it has evolved for them. It’s hard for them.

“[In the Europa League] They will be competing with teams operating on the same financial budgets and I will even suggest that the majority will have spent more than Rangers so if they can make an impression in that then it would be a good campaign. But it will be difficult in that competition as well as there are some really good teams involved.”