Celtic’s defeat to Hearts was just what Wilfried Nancy didn’t need.
In a top-of-the-table clash to begin his Hoops tenure, Nancy’s men were picked off by a Hearts side that ultimately didn’t need to do much to win the game.
Reactions to the defeat have ranged from valid criticisms to pure hysteria, but what we can all agree on is that the team needs a better result in next weekend’s Premier Sports Cup final.
The result reopened a gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, which could be extended if Hearts win against Falkirk on Saturday.
One of Hearts’ key players on the day was Cammy Devlin, who was asked about Celtic’s Japanese players on Monday.
Hearts’ Cammy Devlin on Celtic man lashing out
A combative midfielder, Devlin has built up a reputation as a hammer-thrower in his four years in Scotland.
But he has excelled for Hearts in their unlikely title charge this time around, playing every minute in the Premiership so far.
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Hence why he was invited onto the Scottish Football Social Club after the game – and Michael Stewart was pushing for a juicy answer from him.
Stewart asked: “I didn’t realise you were able to speak Japanese as well, because somehow, you’ve managed to noise up a few of the Japanese players.”
Devlin said: “He was lashing out a little bit. I don’t know about that, but…
“I get carried away. I’m such a different person when I’m on the field, to when I’m off the field. I don’t know what it is.
“When I’m off the field, I’m pretty chilled and pretty relaxed. I hate losing more than I love winning.
“It’s just as soon as I get over that… I get white line fever, I guess you could say. But that’s not my actual personality.”
Maeda was one of a few Celtic players unable to take the opportunities they were presented with. Had he taken his first-half chance on earlier, we could be having different conversations.
Instead, a frustrated Maeda was involved in a few incidents with Hearts players during the game, including Devlin and Craig Halkett.
Celtic’s defeat to Hearts
Celtic dominated the early stages of the game – Hearts had barely had a kick when Claudio Braga opened the scoring shortly before half-time.
But as the Hoops looked to play with more intensity in the second-half, they noticeably lost their sense of direction in the final third.
Nancy bemoaned Celtic taking too many crosses as they searched for an equaliser, as a header from Oisin McEntee seemingly put Hearts out of sight.
A late goal from Kieran Tierney wasn’t to be enough to prevent a home defeat.
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