Steven Pressley’s claim that there is ‘no pressure’ on Hearts as they compete with Celtic for the title is a classic bit of punditry fluff.
As any Celtic fan will tell you, the pressure at the top isn’t just about expecting to win, it’s also about the expectation of winning trophies every single season, and that is something Hearts have never had on their shoulders. Until now.
Hearts are genuine title contenders. With eight games to go, that cannot be denied. Which makes Pressley’s claim that all the pressure is on Celtic and not Hearts, quite baffling.
Will we hunt Hearts down and win the title?
Steven Pressley denies there is title pressure on Hearts, it’s all on Celtic
The Dundee boss faces Hearts this weekend and could have a huge say in how the Scottish Premiership table looks come Sunday night.
But Pressley has moved to claim the pressure is all on Celtic ahead of Dundee’s visit to Tynecastle.
Pressley told the Scottish Daily Mail, “Playing at Hearts, I understand the club. There is always an expectation there.
“And they have done so well this season, but I think a lot of people externally think that probably Rangers or Celtic will just nick it.
“That is what a lot of people are thinking, so I am not sure the pressure is with Hearts. But there will be internal pressure, pressure they put on themselves after having such a good season and, because they are in this situation, they want to go the full distance.”
Why Pressley’s Celtic and Hearts verdict is just nonsense
The last time Hearts were in a genuine title race was 2005/06, ironically when Pressley himself was captain. They started like a train but finished 17 points behind Celtic.
And before that, the famous season of 1985/86 where Hearts choked on the final day of the season losing 2-1 to Dundee with Celtic beating St Mirren 5-0 at Love Street.
They will be desperate to win the league and prove their doubters wrong. But with that desperation, comes pressure, and after the defeat to Kilmarnock last weekend so close to the end, that will be getting felt down Gorgie way.
Compare and contrast that to Celtic’s recent history, the Bhoys long list of successes isn’t just a list of trophies; it’s a masterclass in handling the pressure.
From the Quadruple Treble, to a second nine-in-a-row, this club has been there and seen it all in terms of high-pressure games.
We’ve seen the Hoops win titles in the dying seconds at Kilmarnock and grind out trebles when the legs are heavy and the media narrative is turning. There is pressure on Celtic, of that there is no doubt, but the Parkhead club is better equipped and more well-placed to handle it than the Edinburgh side.
Hearts last major trophy was the 2012 Scottish Cup. Since then, they’ve reached three finals and lost them all.
To suggest there is no pressure on them now, while they sit at the top of the league in March, is just dishonest.
Pressley might want to downplay the stakes to protect his old club, but Parkhead, Celtic fans know the truth. The pressure only breaks those who aren’t used to the heat.
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