THERE will be no bold proclamations about how Celtic are “Going for 55” in the 2024/25 season when they launch their Scottish title defence against Kilmarnock at Parkhead a week today.

Nor will there be any boasts about how the Glasgow giants are “Targeting 119, 120 and 121” as they unfurl the league flag for the third season running in front of tens of thousands of their jubilant fans in the East End.

The infamous and ill-advised slogan that Rangers displayed at Ibrox on the opening day of the 2016/17 campaign did not work out very well for the Govan outfit – they ended up finishing 39 points off top spot in the Premiership.

Celtic – whose fans would all tell you the club on the other side of the River Clyde have only lifted three major honours in their 12 year existence – will not make the same mistake even though they are 1-2 favourites with bookmakers to reclaim their league crown come May.

However, seeing if they can match their age-old adversaries’ haul of 55 top flight triumphs will provide a little added spice in the coming 10 months all the same. Can they eclipse the 118 trophies their city rivals’ have landed since they were formed back in 1872? That, too, will be an intriguing sub-plot. 

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Rangers fans have long celebrated the fact they are the “most successful club in the world”. Over in Egypt, Al Ahly diehards may take issue with that assertion. The African behemoths have amassed an impressive array of domestic, continental and global silverware since they played their first game back in 1907.      

However, if Celtic dominate the Scottish game once again this season and win more than their traditional foes, they will find it impossible to make the claim. The Advertising Standards Authority is sure to be inundated with calls complaining about the wording which is currently emblazoned proudly across pubs, banners, scarves and clothing.

(Image: SNS) At the moment, there appears every chance that Brendan Rodgers’ men will win the William Hill Premiership for the fourth year running and possibly even land the Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Gas Scottish Cup as well.

Celtic supporters may have been underwhelmed by the business their heroes have conducted in the transfer window to date this summer. So far, they have only brought in two goalkeepers, Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel. Do they really have the strength in depth they need to negotiate eight Champions League group games and three domestic competitions without slipping up?

Yet, the Parkhead hierarchy are not, despite the constant pressure they are under to splash the cash, prone to spending their considerable reserves recklessly. More new acquisitions will arrive in the remaining weeks of the window when affordable fees have been agreed. Much depends on who is brought on board.

But Rodgers already has by far and away the biggest and best squad in Scotland. What is more, his existing charges are all familiar with his style of play and comfortable with the demands there will be on them. There is little prospect of them performing as poorly as they did at the start of last term as a result.

Schmeichel, a free signing from Anderlecht in Belgium this month, promises to fill the considerable void left by his predecessor Joe Hart. The 105-times capped Danish internationalist has played for Manchester City, Leeds United and Leicester City in the past after all. Celtic will not faze him.

If his countryman Matt O’Riley departs – and there is every chance the playmaker will become the latest asset who Celtic make an eight figure profit on in August given the interest there is in securing his services – then his manager will have his work cut out finding a like-for-like replacement. Reinforcements are certainly required.

Still, Paulo Bernardo, the Portuguese midfielder who has been tipped to join permanently in the coming days, showed glimpses of what he is capable of last season, not least in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden back in May when his powerful forward run and swerving shot set up Adam Idah for the last minute winner. Will he step up? Celtic have an impressive track record when it comes to bringing through young talent.  

But the difficulties which Rangers have been wrestling with in recent weeks are giving those of a Celtic persuasion as much confidence this will be another enjoyable, possibly treble-winning, campaign as the rude good health they appear to be in.

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Having to play their opening home fixtures at Hampden due to issues with the redevelopment of Ibrox is far from ideal. Their pre-season performances have left, to put it mildly, much to be desired. And the capture of Hamza Igamane, Jefte, Liam Kelly and Clinton Nsiala and did not exactly lead to excited crowds forming on Edmiston Drive.

Philippe Clement, who impressed greatly after replacing Michael Beale as manager last year and who lifted the Premier Sports Cup in December, confessed that large sums of cash would not be available to him to bolster his options a fortnight ago.

“That’s the reality,” the Belgian said. “This is the reality of the club. I had other expectations when I came in in October, I have to say. But I know the reality now.”

(Image: SNS) Will the imminent exit of vice-captain Connor Goldson be a good or a bad thing for Rangers? Will captain James Tavernier join his fellow defender and move on? Will Todd Cantwell be missed if somebody picks him up?  Who will stay and who will go? There is so much upheaval and uncertainty ahead of their difficult opening fixture against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.

All that said, Connor Barron, Oscar Cortes and Vaclav Cerny, the Czech Republic winger who joined on loan from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg this week, should improve Rangers. Mohamed Diomande went from strength to strength after arriving in January and Danilo is also fit again. Maybe they will prove their doubters wrong. It will, though, be a major surprise.

Could another club pip them to second? Hearts, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee all did superbly last season, have all recruited well and are all looking to build and improve on what they achieved.

Elsewhere, hopes are high at Pittodrie that Jimmy Thelin, the Swede who worked wonders at Elfsborg in his homeland, can transform Aberdeen from a laughing stock into a major force again. The same goes for Hibernian legend David Gray at Easter Road.

Can promoted Dundee United, who host Dundee at Tannadice on Sunday, avoid dropping straight back down? Can Motherwell, St Johnstone, who have been taken over by American lawyer Adam Webb, and Ross County push for a top six spot and steer clear of a relegation dogfight? There is so much to look forward to.

With a bit of luck, new SFA head of refereeing Willie Collum can help to ensure that we are all talking about the football and not the contentious VAR decisions made by our leading officials going forward. That would be definite progress. 

But so much of the focus during the 2024/25 campaign will be on seeing if Celtic can edge ahead of Rangers in the all—time trophy table. Maybe the Ibrox club will come good against all the odds and forge further clear of the Parkhead outfit? They are both on 118 just now. It promises to make for compelling viewing.