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Phenomenal- Sky Soccer Saturday pundit goes against the grain to salute Celtic

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Paul Merson has saluted Celtic for the staying power that has delivered nine successive title wins.

The general view from the English media and pundits usually refers to a Mickey Mouse League or the fact that any competent striker would score goals for fun ‘up there’.

Merson has never had any direct contact with the Scottish game but has become one of the best known faces in the game from almost 20 years as a pundit on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard have increased the attention on the Scottish game over the last four years- exactly the time period when Celtic have stepped up their dominance to pick up 11 successive trophies.

Despite a questionable take on the December fixture at Celtic Park, Merson told the Daily Record of his admiration for the winning mentality and determination of Neil Lennon’s side:

I watch Scottish football and the standard can be decent and then I watch it another time and there are some bad mistakes.

But I really have respect for Celtic, being able to win nine titles on the trot. People will say they are not playing against anybody most weeks but ?that’s disrespectful.

They play teams every week and it’s their cup final against Celtic. Teams want to beat Celtic so badly. The Celtic players need to be on it every week and that’s what I admire. It’s phenomenal.

I watched Rangers wipe the floor with Celtic before the winter break when they won at Celtic Park. They played them off the park. It was embarrassing and it was like Rangers were going to go on and win the league by 15 points.

Then Celtic went on a run of 10 or 11 games and Rangers are losing against other teams. That’s what I mean about turning up every single week.

I don’t think Celtic are much better than Rangers but they turn up every week knowing what to do. Celtic treat every game like a cup final. Rangers need to get that.

Merson spent 12 years at Arsenal, making over 300 appearances before spells at Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.

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