Hearts legend Gary Mackay has made a bold claim ahead of the Tynecastle side’s meeting with Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final next month.
He has identified two positions in the Celtic side which he thinks Hearts can take advantage of.
“Would be vulnerable”
“Celtic have three or four real quality players who are on a different level to anything Hearts have but by the same token there are a few players, particularly at centre-back and right-back, who I feel would be vulnerable if Hearts went about the game in a positive manner and were able to put them under pressure” he told the Edinburgh Evening News.
It is fair to say that most Celtic fans will agree with the first part of Mackay’s comments, and disagree with the second part.
Celtic do have players on a different level to Hearts, few would dispute that. However, the vulnerable areas of the pitch comments don’t add up.
Player has improved
The Hoops have improved in recent weeks at right-back with the return of Mikael Lustig to the side. Is he as good as he once was? Probably not. But he is still more than capable of turning in good performances.
The Celtic centre-backs have been in great form recently. Kristoffer Ajer has stepped up, and Jozo Simunovic is playing well. It should be remembered that the Hoops have yet to concede a goal in the Scottish Cup this season.
Naturally Mackay will be looking for areas that his old team can take advantage of. But right-back and centre-back aren’t two of those.
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