What Celtic squad really thought of Rangers meltdown in 2012 and one-horse league race

The Glasgow rivals went almost three years without playing one another after Gers plunged into financial ruin

Adam Matthews admits no Celtic player wanted to see Rangers tumble out of the top-flight in 2012.

Gers' financial collapse and subsequent liquidation 13 years ago forced them to start again at the foot of Scottish football.

Hoops diehards rejoiced at their bitter rivals' demise but that sentiment wasn't shared inside the Parkhead dressing room.

The Glasgow giants were separated for three years before eventually clashing in a League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

In an exclusive interview with Record Sport, former Celtic defender Matthews shed light on the mood of the camp at the time by revealing: "I think if you ask anyone, honestly, no one wanted it.

"You might speak to some Celtic fans and, yes, they'd be buzzing that Rangers are struggling.

"But I don't think it was good for the league or for Scottish football. And I think if you ask any Celtic player, even the most diehard Celtic fan, if they're being honest, they'd rather Rangers in the league because it's a massive game.

"It's the one you look forward to the most in the calendar. So, yeah, it was a big miss for us. But at the end of the day, we just had to do our job and we won that league comfortably. But I think the league's better when Rangers and Celtic are in it, just for the Old Firms."

Celtic accumulated just 79 points in their first title-winning season without Rangers - the lowest tally for a Scottish champion since the split was introduced in 2000-01.

• READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE! Adam Matthews on his only Celtic regret, bittersweet exit and talks over a shock return

Matthews - now at Shamrock Rovers - confessed Neil Lennon's side put all their eggs in the Champions League basket after motoring into the last 16.

Asked if Celts felt they could take their foot off the accelerator and still cruise to the league crown, Matthews said: "Yeah, you'd like to say no, but that probably is in the back of your mind.

"There are some other tough games in Scotland. But, like I said, Celtic vs Rangers is the main one. Even when it's Rangers, we played them in the cup a couple of times and just the atmosphere is what you want to play in front of.

"So, I don't think we knew we could put our foot off the gas. I think, obviously, doing so well in the Champions League probably affected the league form.

"But we weren't happy with that league season, even though we won it. We knew we could have done better. It's just one of those things. We won the league, but at the end of the day, we weren't happy."

Whether punters accept it or not, the reality is that football's biggest derby is a unique selling point for both clubs in attracting new signings.

Matthews - who won six major honours between 2011 and 2015 at Parkhead - said: "Yeah, obviously that's a massive pull.

"I think even if you're just a football fan, nothing to do with Celtic or Rangers, it's one of the games you watch when it's on telly.

"You can tell the atmosphere how good it is just from watching it on telly. And you want to play in the big games when you want to become a footballer.

"I don't think they get much bigger than Celtic vs Rangers, really. People down south might not realise how big or how much they dislike each other. But yeah, they're mad games. I think I played in four or five and I won three, so not too bad.

"The first one was on the bench at Ibrox. We lost 4-2. But even the Celtic fans at Ibrox, when we used to have all behind the goal, I just couldn't wait to get on the pitch."

Although Rangers' implosion robbed Matthews of experiencing more derbies, the Welsh right-back considers himself fortunate to have played in an era when there were 7,000 fans in the away end.

Asked which stadium he preferred, Matthews added: "I'd say Celtic Park, obviously. If you win the game or you win in the game, the place is absolutely bouncing.

"But I think when we play at Ibrox and Celtic used to have all behind the goal, and if you win there, that's some atmosphere there.

"Obviously, I think it's ruined a bit now with the amount of fans allowed in the stadium. I think they probably need to go back to that.

"I don't know if it will happen. I think it's better for Scottish football and for the Old Firm. Because if you win at Ibrox with the fans all behind the goal, it's a mad atmosphere."

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