Joe Hart believes Celtic have the focus and the squad to make life extremely difficult for the rest of the Scottish Premiership, after another European exit.
The Bhoys were humbled against Bodo/Glimt over two legs, in a shocking and frustrating Europa Conference League tie. But Hart, with 75 England caps and Premier League titles to his name, has shared the impression of a laser-focused Celtic side that’ll stick to the right way of playing.
Hart, an ever-present for Celtic this season, was an inspired signing. Not just for his ability, but his utter belief in Ange Postecoglou’s winning brand of football.
Joe Hart said of the Celtic squad [Herald]: “We’ll just focus on exactly what we want to do.
“We’ve been like that when we’ve been behind and we’ll be exactly the same like now we are in front.
“We’re just focusing on what we can take care of, what our squad can take care of. It’s Hibs that are in front of us. Who knows [if a rest will benefit us]? That’s not something that we think about. We’re set up to play twice a week in the squad.
“Ultimately, right now, we’re not going to get that but we were set up for it. Whether that was the case or not, we’re ready.”
Joe Hart sounds warning as Celtic look to do the business domestically
I think a lot of us – myself included – had an impression of Joe Hart before he came to play for Celtic, a misguided one at that. Given his status in the game, the adverts he’d done, and what he’d become accustomed to as an England no.1 and Premier League winner, he was maybe coming to wind down the clock at Parkhead.
That was utterly daft, in hindsight, and monstrously misinformed. Joe Hart has embodied, along with Callum McGregor, the ethos required to win trophies at Celtic. Any clichés about Premier League prima donnas absolutely do not apply here. He’s been brilliant, on the pitch and off it.
And when he says that Celtic are going to keep doing their thing, it makes sense to believe him implicitly. The phrase “he gets it” has been used about several characters this season; include Hart in that.
Why wouldn’t Celtic continue their winning ways? The European struggles suddenly have pundits and rival fans believing that, in the space of mere days, Celtic have gone from table-topping conquerors to a spent force. Opinions in sport are a wonderful thing, but the knee-jerk reaction to Thursday night has clouded the reality of how well Celtic have done this season.
The squad is set up to play twice a week, so regardless of whether we’d progressed in Europe or not, there should’ve been enough. Now, the entire resources of the squad can be distilled into one aim; winning everything left in Scotland.
That’s a frightening prospect for everyone else. And you can bet Joe Hart will be demanding the most from his Celtic colleagues.
Read more: Shaun Maloney wants Hibs fans to stop booing their players ahead of Celtic clash
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