BRENDAN RODGERS guided Celtic to their fourth successive title last season with a yawning chasm of 17 points between the champions and the Ibrox runners-up.
The Irishman added the Premier Sports League Cup with a penalty-kick shoot-out triumph over the same opposition at Hampden in December.
However, the opportunity to seal a sixth treble in nine years was obliterated with a spot-kick loss to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final at the same venue a week ago.
Former Hoops goal hero Chris Sutton insists the unscripted defeat against the Dons could prove to be beneficial to his old club as Rodgers prepares for the new campaign.
JUST CHAMPION…a beaming Brendan Rodgers celebrates Celtic’s 5-0 win at Tannadice last month to seal a fourth uccessive title.
The one-time England international striker urges the manager and his players to keep their foot on the accelerator all the way from start to finish.
Looking at yesterday’s revolutionary changes in Govan with reports of a £20million transfer war chest for the new manager, Sutton said: “There’s the stuff about Rangers coming, but in reality they are still a long way back.
“The long wait for the takeover to go through and the delay over a manager hasn’t helped them.
“They are playing catch up and that’s where Celtic need to hammer home their advantage, on and off the pitch.
“Rodgers will know the importance of a fast start. He needs players in place for the Champions League qualifier but also to apply the early pressure in the league, when a new-look Rangers side will still be finding their feet.
“This is no time to be mucking about.
“Rangers fans will be galvanised and there will be a feelgood factor on the back of the owners coming in.
“In contrast, it’s all a bit flat at Celtic right now. The best way to lift that mood is to get busy in the transfer market.
“Because there are questions right now. There is a pressing need for a striker after the decision to sell Kyogo Furuhashi – and not replace him – came back to bite them on the backside.
HIGHS AND LOWS…Brendan Rodgers and his players accept the acclaim after Celtic’s Hampden success in mid-December and (below) the manager, Gavin Strachan and John Kennedy are crestfallen after the Scottish Cup loss.
“There are doubts whether Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will be sold, people will wonder if the Nicolas Kuhn of the first half of the season will turn up, or the pale imitation we saw in the second.
“There are questions about Adam Idah, the centre of defence, the wide areas.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “All of a sudden from a position of supreme strength, it now looks like there’s a growing list of jobs to do.
“I’ve got no doubt Rodgers knows it, too. He’s hinted about it often enough. He’s also heard plenty of times that Rangers are coming.
“They may or may not be this time, but, regardless, Celtic cannot afford to sit still.
“And what is going on over at Ibrox cannot be ignored by those in charge at Parkhead.
“It would be foolish to put the head in the sand when it comes to the challenge coming from across the city.
“But it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing for Celtic. In fact, Rangers finally getting their act together might be the best thing that can happen to them.
“Just like last week’s Scottish Cup Final.
PAINFUL WATCH…Callum McGregor and the Celtic players look on as Aberdeen accept the Scottish Cup.
“I’m sure there are plenty of Celtic fans who were and still are distraught at losing to Aberdeen and seeing the treble going up in smoke.
“But I can’t help but think the defeat was a GOOD thing for the club in the long run.
“I mean that. If Kasper Schmeichel hadn’t made that uncharacteristic mistake, or if Daizen Maeda had stuck away that last chance, the entire story would have been different.
“Celtic would have completed the clean sweep, everything would have been seen as hunky dory.
“But it would have papered over some of the recent cracks.
“Listen, it’s still a phenomenal achievement winning the double. Regardless of what anyone thinks, it’s tough to win two out of three never mind the job lot.
“Celtic have made it look easy in recent years and they could well have done it again this time but for some big moments at Hampden last week.
“That doesn’t get away from the fact this is a team that is in real need of refreshing.
“They should be proud of their achievements this term. But the defeat to Aberdeen has made them feel a little uncomfortable and maybe now some have cottoned on to the fact there is work to be done.”
FALLING DOWN ON THE JOB…Daizen Maeda grimaces as Dimitar Mitov blocks his stoppage-time shot.
Sutton added: “The new Rangers owners are already talking about a £20million immediate investment in the team.
“That’s a decent chunk of money for Scottish football – but not to Celtic. They spent about double that in the last two windows, so that shows you the challenge Rangers face.
“You would expect Celtic to go and spend at least the same again this summer. They’ll have to.
“The events of the last week should allow Brendan Rodgers to go to the club’s hierarchy and explain the team does need strengthened and rejuvenated.
“They need more to qualify and then compete in the Champions League – and now to also stay ahead of the game in Scotland.
“If there is a proper challenge coming from across the city, then Celtic will have to raise their levels and respond. That’s no bad thing.”
