Hearts manager Derek McInnes believes his side must prepare for “every eventuality” as Wilfried Nancy takes charge of Celtic for the first time on Sunday, but the Tynecastle boss also admitted that facing a team with a new manager brings a unique level of unpredictability.
For Hearts, the trip to Celtic Park comes at a time when their own momentum has stalled. A blistering early-season run has given way to a five-game winless spell, including dropped points late against Kilmarnock midweek.
Celtic, meanwhile, approach the fixture on an upward curve, stabilised by O’Neill’s work and energised by the arrival of a manager known for tactical structure and controlled attacking football.
Nancy is expected to introduce elements of his preferred system, a flexible, fluid 3-4-2-1 shape, even if time on the training ground has been minimal.
That uncertainty poses problems for McInnes, who will have to set up his team without a clear blueprint of what Celtic will look like on the day.
He acknowledged as much, suggesting Hearts must focus primarily on their own performance rather than trying to second-guess Nancy’s early adjustments.
The combination of Celtic’s renewed energy, a manager with a strong tactical identity and a home crowd eager to welcome a new era represents a significant challenge for Hearts.
McInnes’ comments underline the respect he has for the task ahead, and the awareness that Celtic’s shift in leadership could make Sunday even more demanding than usual.
He said: (Hearts FC), “We’ve done this before, when you play against teams with a new manager.
“He’s got a set system in place that he likes to play, which is different to the Celtic system that they’ve been playing for a while now.
“So, whether he changes that in a short space of time, who knows? But we’ll try and pick a team to deal with every eventuality.
“And we obviously, we always look at the opposition, but we’ve got to try and concentrate on our own work.“
McInnes’ analysis reflect the challenge of preparing for an opponent entering a transition phase.
Celtic have been clear in recent days that Nancy will not overhaul the team overnight, but his football philosophy, proactive pressing, flexible rotations and positional discipline, is well known. That means Hearts must anticipate a Celtic side eager to impress a new head coach, a group working at full intensity to secure places in his plans.
Celtic’s players have already spoken about the heightened energy at Lennoxtown since Nancy’s arrival, and that alone could set the tone for the weekend.
A fresh managerial presence tends to sharpen competitiveness, and with Celtic already playing with more fluency under O’Neill, Hearts will encounter a team far removed from the uncertainty of early autumn. McInnes is right to acknowledge the difficulty of predicting tactical details, but what he can expect is a Celtic side full of purpose.
The Hearts boss also referenced the importance of focusing on his own side’s performance, something that has eluded them in recent weeks.
For all their strong early-season form, Hearts’ recent run, where goals have dried up and leads have slipped, contrasts sharply with Celtic’s resurgence.
That difference in trajectory is likely to have a bearing on Sunday, with Celtic entering the match as clear favourites not just because of the new manager effect, but because of their improved structure and rhythm.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes lookls on REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Nancy’s arrival has lifted the mood around the club, and while major system changes may come later, the immediate impact is likely to be intensity, clarity and a crowd fully invested in the start of a new era.
For Hearts, it sets up a demanding afternoon, for Celtic, it offers the perfect stage to push forward under their new manager.
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