Steven Pressley has already said what much of Scottish football is thinking, Celtic’s response to defeat is not a weakness, it is something opponents actively fear ahead of kick-off.
Celtic head into the Dundee fixture after a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United, but Pressley has not spoken like a manager who sees an opening, he has spoken like one who knows a backlash is coming.
All Celtic fans have been hearing is how the title race is over after the Bhoys’ defeat at Tannadice, but Pressley’s fear cuts through that noise around pressure and form.
Celtic may have lost last time out, but the expectation from the Dundee boss is not that the Hoops will wobble, it is that they will come back hard.
And Pressley has made it clear how he really feels about Martin O’Neill’s and Celtic’s visit to Dens Park this coming Sunday.
- READ MORE: Ireland’s media completely miss the point about Celtic defender Liam Scales vs North Macedonia
Has O’Neill been soft in his approach since returning to Celtic?
Chris Sutton thinks so!
Celtic reaction is the part Dundee boss Pressley cannot ignore
Dundee are currently in eighth place in the Scottish Premiership table, just five points from the relegation play-off places.
And with Celtic competing for the title, Pressley knows a ‘wounded animal’ will be gunning for his side.
Pressley said: “Of course you expect a reaction from Celtic because they’re a wounded animal after defeat in their last game.
“Our games against them this season have been very competitive so we have to make sure this one on Sunday is too.
“We expect a reaction from Celtic so will have to be ready for that.
“Obviously they have the pressure of the title race but we also have plenty to play for because we’re trying to make sure we retain our Premiership status for next season.
“We still have work to do on that front so it’s an important game for both teams.
“Can we exploit any pressure Celtic are under? I hope so but the focus is on ourselves and the objectives we have.”
The key point in all of this is that Pressley is not talking about a Celtic side that looks vulnerable. He is talking about one he expects to hit back.
Calling Celtic a wounded animal is not neutral language. It is an admission that defeat has sharpened the danger rather than reduced it.
Celtic still set the tone despite pressure narrative
Managers do not speak like that when they believe momentum has fully turned. They speak like that when they know the team in front of them still carries the greater threat.
Pressley did reference the title race and Dundee’s fight to stay in the Premiership, but even that comparison highlights the gap in expectations between the two sides. One is chasing success, the other is trying to avoid failure.
That contrast explains why Celtic remain the central focus in the build-up. Even in defeat, they are still the team shaping how the game is being discussed.
This is not a narrative built around Celtic vulnerability. It is one built around anticipation of their response.
Celtic now have to deliver it on the pitch, but the mindset from the opposition is already set. Even after a setback, they are still the side others are preparing for with caution.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
