Pedro Mendes certain Rangers WILL win title as Celtic rival dubbed 'one of the best of all time'

Pedro Mendes is certain that Rangers can dethrone Celtic THIS season.

The Hoops are heavy favourites to make it four-in-a-row after a flawless start to the campaign both domestically and in Europe. The Parkhead side can equal Gers' Scottish record of 55 titles if they are crowned champions in May but despite the negativity surrounding Ibrox, ex-fans' favourite Mendes insists Philippe Clement's men can upset the odds.

He said: "I’m 100% sure (Rangers will win the league). They just need to believe. Believe in the team, believe in the player next to them, believe in the manager and the thing that you do well. I think that’s the most important thing in such a tough competition.

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"It’s always difficult when new players come in at Rangers. It’s a different reality for sure, compared to the clubs that they came from. Sometimes you need time to adapt to a new reality, the new challenge you have ahead of you and the pressure you’re under, because at Rangers a draw is a bad result. So you need to win every single game.

"There’s quality players there, but sometimes you need to give them time, but at Rangers you don’t have time. You just need to train and be on top of your game as soon as you sign. Even in my time, during the season we were six or seven points behind (Celtic). The main thing then is for the players to believe in themselves, the manager and the process."

Former Portugal playmaker Mendes lifted one title during his 18 months in Glasgow as he helped end Celtic's bid for a fourth successive league crown in 2009. The ex-Tottenham and Porto star played at the top level throughout his career but regards Hoops rival Scott Brown as one of his toughest opponents - and a Scottish football great.

He told Gambling.com: "During your career you have players that you played against, and for sure Scott was one of the toughest I faced. Because of the way he played, the stamina, and the passion he showed on the pitch.

"It will be good to see him again in a different environment and competition (at the Scottish Masters tournament in Aberdeen). But Rangers vs. Celtic will always be Rangers vs. Celtic, so that’s something you can’t change. The Old Firm is always a special game. During the Old Firm all the things you trained during the week, like the tactics, go out the window and it’s just passion on the pitch.

"It was a good spell I had at Rangers, and the Old Firm are games that I will always remember. For sure, at the time Scott was the Celtic midfield, and one of the best Scottish midfielders of all time I think."