Celtic star Joe Hart delivers perfect response to journalist’s title race question

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Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has perfectly summed up what’s required from himself and his teammates across the course of a Scottish Premiership title race.

Hart, of course, has experienced silverware success before, helping Manchester City to two English Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.

And he was asked about what makes the difference when trying to get over the line in the quest for trophies, with Celtic sitting four points behind Rangers in the current league table.

Hart said [YouTube]: “Focusing on you. Focusing on the stuff you can control. Not letting other things creep into what you’re trying to do and what you’re trying to achieve. I think that’s a pretty clear message throughout the years. There’s only so much you can impact and influence. So, focus your energy on that.

“I don’t think you can block it out. You have to be fully aware of your surroundings. I don’t think there’s any harm in being aware. But in terms of energy and in terms of focus, using everything in your capabilities to do something, you just have to focus it on you.

“There’s no harm in being aware of other games going on but you just constantly need to have it in your head that, whether you are watching it or not watching it, it doesn’t actually matter. Other people are going to do what they’re going to do and you need to take care of your opponent.”

The media in Scotland always try to define Celtic in comparison to Rangers. If we’re honest, we do it at times as supporters too.

However, Hart is spot on. The Celtic players can only afford to focus on themselves and what they do in a season – not what’s going on at Ibrox. We have absolutely no control on their situation outside of the derby matches.

This is a new experience for plenty of high-performing stars in this Celtic squad. Players such as Liel Abada, Kyogo and even David Turnbull have never won a league title before.

So it’s crucial that leaders such as Joe Hart, Callum McGregor, Tom Rogic and James Forrest step forward this season and help forge the needed mentality.

That’s what we need to see from this group over the next few weeks and months. Some of the football has been impressive, but every supporter now wants consistency.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou comments on Daizen Maeda to Celtic reports.