Brian Gosden 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
Being a big fish in a small pond is great fun. Being able to swim around like a boss every day and do exactly as you please can certainly do wonders for your confidence. However, if you’re a fish, or in this case a football club, with a competitive streak, then having it all served to you on a plate can get a little frustrating.
This is the position Celtic have often found themselves in over the years. Of course, pre-Rangers’ implosion, the Scottish Premier League was competitive for at least two teams. However, with Celtic’s Glasgow rivals still trying to rebuild after a spectacular fall from grace, there aren’t many potential pitfalls for Brendan Rodgers’ men.
Talk of a Switch Has Been Around for an Age
Of course, anything can and will happen in football, but with Celtic currently unbeaten in 22 Premier League games this season (21 wins, one draw), the inevitable question of how they’d fare has cropped up again. Talk of Celtic and Rangers joining the English Premier League has rumbled on for what seems like an eternity.
In 2014, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said that he was prepared to discuss the idea of Celtic breaking rank and swimming into a new pond. Unfortunately, that talk never materialised into action and, in 2016, things took another disappointing turn after the English Football League rejected the idea of Celtic joining a new 100-professional team structure.
The Figures Seem to Stack Up for Celtic
Regardless of whether or not Celtic could join a new pool of equally sized football fish, the question still remains: could they cut it in the EPL? For many, the obvious answer is no. However, if you look at the stats, things look a little different. If we look at Celtic’s record against English clubs in European competitions from 1965 to 2009, it’s the Scots that have the upper hand. In 18 matches, the Hoops have won seven, drawn five and lost six times.
Moving into more recent times, 19 European matches between 2008 and 2016 have produced an equally strong record. Seven times, six draws and six losses would suggest that, at the very least, Celtic can compete against English competition. Now, if we look at Celtic’s European record as a whole, it’s far from impressive. This may suggest that, just as the Scottish national side often does, Celtic’s finest are able to raise their games when the play an English team.
Premier League Pressure an Invisible Killer
If this is the case, the natural question is: could they sustain that pace? One of the reasons the Premier League is so tough is because there are no easy games. Not only that, but the pace and pressure teams face on a weekly basis mean that they have to have deep reserves.
Celtic’s first team might have the skills to mix it in the EPL, but is there enough depth in the side to survive a season? Indeed, if experienced vets like Kolo Toure were to take a knock or youngsters like Moussa Dembele struggle to find their form, then Celtic could struggle.
Now, if confidence has any bearing on how the team would perform in the Premier League, then Celtic could certainly enjoy some sort of success. A quick look at the Scottish Premier League betting shows that Celtic are the runaway favourites to claim this year’s title. According to Sun Bets, Celtic are so far ahead in the league that it’s not worth offering odds anymore as it’s virtually a formality. Indeed, with match odds like 4/9 in a recent showdown with third placed Aberdeen, it’s easy to see why Celtic could ride a wave of confidence into the EPL.
Crunch Games Could Cost Celtic Vital Points
However, confidence could only get you so far. Indeed, there’s no doubt Rogers’ men would raise their games when the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal came to town, but would about travelling to Burnley or Stoke on a grey Saturday afternoon. Putting on an exceptional performance in a game that’s not considered a “blockbuster” is where Celtic could really fall down.
Physical teams with a direct style pose problems for the best the EPL has to offer and there’s no doubt Celtic would have things just as tough. When you combine this with the likelihood some players won’t be as “up” for the game as they should be, the end result could be a team that struggles at the foot of the table.
Of course, Celtic could make the switch and shock everyone. However, even though the stats suggest they wouldn’t completely crumble, it’s likely some players would falter in “mediocre” games and that would lead to lost points and, most likely, mid-table mediocrity.
