It has been another interesting week in the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic and Hearts leading the charge.
On Saturday, Hearts rocked up to Ibrox and beat Rangers to continue their strong start to the new Premiership season under new boss Derek McInnes, after finishing in the bottom half last term.
Celtic left it late against Kilmarnock, but recorded three points thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s stoppage-time penalty, and now, a lot of the talk is around whether Hearts can challenge for the title.
Everyone will remember Aberdeen’s great start to the season in 2024/25, before they faded away in dramatic fashion, as Neil McCann waded in on the debate.
Hearts are ‘nine years ahead’ of title challenge, as Celtic sit top of the table
To finish second, perhaps you give Hearts a strong chance, especially with Rangers hovering above the relegation zone and yet to win a league game this term.
But to take on the dominance of Celtic is a different story altogether, as McCann told Sportscene that Hearts have a squad ‘strong enough’ to compete.
The former Hearts winger added that the issue is the ‘longevity’ and trying to keep up with the likes of Celtic, who are used to delivering year in and year out.
“I think they have a squad strong enough,” responded McCann on Hearts’ possible title challenge. “It’s yet to be proven where they can have their longevity, because that’s what it’s all about.
“You can challenge so long, but generally, the powers of squads that Rangers, and particularly Celtic, have had over the dominance they have had is that they are able to go all season. That remains to be seen with Hearts.
“But they are nine years ahead of Tony Bloom’s plan of trying to challenge for the title. Right now, they are sitting pretty. It’s great when you get a bit of momentum and belief in your camp.
“We have seen it in the past. Great things can happen if you can get a confidence in your team.”
Hearts’ title record in Scotland
It has been a long time since anybody, outside of Celtic and Rangers, lifted Scottish football’s main crown.
Aberdeen were the last team to do so in 1985, and Hearts have to go further back to the last time they were champions of Scotland.
- How many Scottish Premiership titles have Hearts won? 4
- Years since Hearts’ last title win: 65
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