Celtic Hit Hearts For Seven! Can Rangers Really Hang In A Proper Title Race? Let’s See Shall We!

WE ARE SO BACK, BABY!

Seven goals. Seven bloody goals! After everything we’ve witnessed over the last few weeks, Celtic have just absolutely destroyed Hearts at Paradise, and I couldn’t be happier.

A 7-1 victory, and believe me, it could have been considerably more.

Callum Osmand grabbed a double, Benjamin Nygren helped himself to two, while Kieran Tierney and Camilo Durán also got in on the act. Hearts simply couldn’t live with us.

After the embarrassment of Lisbon on Thursday evening, this was exactly the sort of response I wanted from Martin O’Neill and his players.

But today’s result also raises another interesting question.

Can Rangers actually handle a proper title race?

Rangers Still Have Plenty To Prove

I’ve been watching our rivals with interest recently, particularly the growing excitement surrounding their supposed resurgence.

But I’m not convinced.

Yesterday they travelled to Dundee with an opportunity to put Celtic under pressure. Instead, they dropped two points in a 2-2 draw.

Now Celtic have responded by putting seven past Hearts.

Here’s what I’ve been wondering.

When Rangers are miles behind Celtic, they often seem capable of producing performances that convince their supporters they’re on the verge of something special.

We also witnessed what happened during the COVID season, when they established a commanding advantage and eventually won the league.

But what happens when they’re involved in a genuine, sustained title race against a Celtic side capable of finding its form?

Can they handle that pressure?

Can they demonstrate the consistency required when every dropped point matters?

I’m far from convinced they can.

Celtic’s First World Problems Are What Make Us Different

There’s another point I want to make, particularly after the criticism I’ve directed towards Celtic recently.

We demand better because our ambitions extend beyond winning Scottish league titles.

That’s what I mean when I describe our complaints as football’s first world problems.

We’re not satisfied simply because Celtic are top of the Premiership. We want European progress, stronger recruitment and a football club capable of competing with serious opposition.

Some supporters of other clubs would probably love to have our problems.

But that doesn’t mean we should lower our expectations.

I’ve spent weeks questioning Celtic’s direction, and I stand by those arguments.

One magnificent domestic victory doesn’t suddenly erase our European shortcomings.

However, it certainly reminds everybody what this team is capable of when the players perform with confidence, purpose and attacking freedom.

Now Build On It, Celtic!

Today was absolutely magnificent.

The movement, the finishing, the willingness to attack and the sheer ruthlessness were everything we’ve been crying out for.

Martin deserves enormous credit for getting that response after Thursday’s disappointment.

Now comes the challenge of making performances like this the standard rather than the exception.

As for Rangers, the pressure is back on them.

They’ve been talked up plenty recently, but talking about a title challenge and actually sustaining one are two very different things.

Celtic have just sent a rather emphatic reminder of who they’re dealing with.

There’s still plenty to improve, particularly in Europe, and nobody should pretend otherwise.

But tonight isn’t about another boardroom argument or another European post-mortem.

It’s about enjoying watching Celtic absolutely batter somebody.

Seven goals, three points and a statement of intent.

We’re top of the league, we’re scoring goals for fun, and I’m beginning to wonder whether Rangers have the bottle to stay with us when the pressure really starts….