Martin O'Neill in surprise Rangers confession as he admits EIGHT Ibrox stars would've walked into Celtic side he inherited

The former Parkhead boss led the club to a remarkable Treble in his first season but had work to do when he arrived in Glasgow.

Martin O'Neill admits much of Rangers' 2000 side would have walked into the Celtic team he inherited.

The former Parkhead boss believes as many as eight of their Ibrox rivals were a shoo-in for a place in his starting XI.

Regardless, O'Neill revitalised Celtic and led them to the Treble that season, bringing in the likes of Neil Lennon and Chris Sutton to spearhead a revolution.

But he insists the achievement was made all the sweeter by the strength of competition across the city.

He told The Scottish Sun : “That Celtic squad was not strong enough to go and compete against a Rangers side that had Amoruso, Mols, Klos.

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“If you were to compare the two sides, I will say this, at least eight of the 2000 Rangers team, if not more, would easily have got into the Celtic side.

“They were competing in the Champions League while my first game for Celtic in Europe was a qualifying match in Luxembourg. That’s how far Celtic had fallen.

“So for us to do it in the first year was great.

“Lennon arrived around Christmas and gave us that extra drive over the last few months of the season to keep it going.

“For us to take the Championship away from Rangers was terrific.

“Celtic had, I think, won one Championship over the previous 12 years. That was the start of a beginning of domination that has progressed ever since.”