Christophe Berra knows Hearts are up against it against Celtic at Hampden

By Hamish Carton

May 24, 2019

Christophe Berra has highlighted the size of the task for his Hearts side if they’re to beat Celtic at Hampden on Saturday.

The Jambos are aiming to become the first team in over three years to beat Celtic in a domestic cup match and make some of their own history in the process. They’ve had success against the Hoops on two occasions in the past two seasons but both of those have been on the narrow, untrimmed pitch at Tynecastle.

(photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

Berra has belief in his team but he’s under no illusions about the how tough the match will be.

He told FourFourTwo: “We always have a big performance in us, we have done it against Celtic in the past, especially at home.

“Hampden is Celtic’s second home so it will be a difficult task.”

(photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

A second home

Berra’s final comment just emphasises how much Celtic have come on over the past three seasons. Prior to Brendan Rodgers’ appointment in 2016, Celtic could barely win a match at the National Stadium.

In Ronny Deila’s time in charge, we lost to both Inverness Caley Thistle and Ross County, as well as lower league Rangers.

(Photo by Vagelis Georgariou/ActionPlus/Corbis via Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers put belief in those same players that they could dominate at Hampden and since then their record has been exceptional.

With ten wins on the spin, Celtic have turned the National Stadium into a fortress like no other team in recent memory. When Hearts take to the field on Saturday afternoon they know they won’t just be taking on Celtic – they’ll also be going against history.