Stiliyan Petrov believes Rangers must improve for the good of Scottish football as the Old Firm rivalry with Celtic has gone flat.
Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys have brushed aside the Gers this season, winning five out of their six Glasgow derbies in all competitions this season with the former Liverpool boss on the cusp of completing a treble in his first season.
Ex-Hoops star Petrov believes Scottish football thrives when both Celtic and Rangers are on a level playing field, and has urged Pedro Caixinha’s side to improve in the foreseeable future in order to do that.
“I want to see Rangers get better because I want to see an ‘old’ Old Firm,” Petrov told the Belfast Telegraph.
“If they are not strong competition, that game will have lost its intensity. They need eachother to compete, Scottish football would not thrive without that.
“I think Rangers will get stronger and stronger. They have been well behind this season but for next season they will become stronger and more competitive.”
Celtic could earn their third trophy of the season on Saturday afternoon at Hampden Park, as they take on Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen in the final of the Scottish Cup.
The Hoops have dominated football north of the border this season, remaining unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership and finishing a huge 39 points above their bitter rivals.
Now, Portuguese boss Caixinha must improve his side in the summer transfer window and hope he can turn the Gers into a domestic threat next season if the 54-time Scottish champions are to adhere to Petrov’s wishes.
Retired midfielder Petrov won four Scottish Premiership titles during his seven-year stay in Glasgow between 1999 and 2006, before moving to Aston Villa.