Derek McInnes might have Hearts out in front in the title race, but Celtic are still the team he keeps coming back to. Even with a gap there, the focus hasn’t shifted away from them when the title race comes up.
Hearts have got themselves into this position by being steady. They’ve taken points when others haven’t and kept things tight in games that could have gone either way. That’s what’s put them where they are.
It tells you how they’re still viewed. Performances haven’t always been sharp, but the squad still has players who can change games, and they’ve been through this kind of pressure before.
He said: (The Scotsman), “One hundred per cent. You wouldn’t discount a Martin O’Neill Celtic team at any juncture.
“They’re a good side, they’ve got good players and they’ve been over the course. I think they’ve got a fantastic manager.
“It was obviously a blow for them (losing at Tannadice), but there’s still a lot of football to be played and I think anybody ruling Celtic out would be foolish.
“We’ve now been elevated into a position that probably nobody thought we could be at this stage of the season. I think when you look across Europe, across the world, for a team to have the disparity in wages and spending power as against the other two (Celtic and Rangers), it’s so unusual.”
That last point is where the difference shows. Hearts don’t have the same depth, and that can become clear when games come quickly or injuries hit.
Celtic, even without hitting top form, still have players to come in and keep the level steady. That helps over a run of fixtures where small margins decide things.
There’s also the fixture list to consider. Celtic still have games where they will expect to dominate the ball, and if they find any kind of rhythm in front of goal, results can turn quickly.
Hearts have done well to stay consistent, but maintaining that pace is another challenge. That’s where the pressure shifts, and where Celtic’s experience in these moments could still come into play.
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