Derek McInnes tried to shut down any suggestion of luck after Hearts beat Motherwell, but the way he responded revealed the pressure Celtic are used to that defines this stage of a title race.
The question itself was simple, asking whether teams at the top sometimes need fortune to get results over the line.
McInnes did not accept that framing, immediately turning it back and challenging whether his side had been lucky.
Watch what the Hearts boss did below:
McInnes rejected the idea outright, describing missed chances as poor finishing and insisting his team were good enough to win. But his immediate and aggressive reaction tells Celtic fans something immediately.
The Hearts boss’ response was direct, but it was a far cry from the McInnes Celtic fans have been watching downplay his side’s title chances all season, now that the finishing line is nearing.
Will we hunt Hearts down and win the title?
Celtic experience defines moments like this in a title race
McInnes acknowledged the context of the question, referencing the final five games and the weight of responsibility that comes with that point in the season.
He also spoke about how difficult it becomes to sustain performance levels as the demands increase and margins tighten.
This is a phase Celtic are accustomed to navigating, where results are delivered but needing to defend how they were achieved.
Celtic face these questions constantly, and the first time it’s mentioned to McInnes, the Hearts gaffer kind of loses the plot.
McInnes reaction shows the pressure beginning to surface
He continued to justify the result, pointing to scoring three goals as clear evidence his side deserved to win.
That argument was reinforced by highlighting the 70-point mark and contributions across the squad.
The tone remained consistent, with repeated emphasis on rejecting any suggestion that fortune played a role whilst forgetting that Hearts were behind for much of the match and needed a dubious penalty to get the win over the line.
What stands out is not the answer itself, but McInnes’ aggressive reply which was used to reinforce his point.
That level of response reflects the strain that builds during a title run-in, when every result carries added significance.
For Celtic, this is familiar territory, and it is often in these moments that experienced managers tend to bat those questions aside rather than react as McInnes just did.
In a title race decided by fine margins, pressure does not just show in performances, it shows in the reactions that follow them.
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