Celtic have booked their place in next season’s Champions League qualifiers after dramatically clinching the Scottish Premiership title with victory over Hearts…
Martin O’Neill’s side secured a remarkable title triumph on the final day of the campaign, overturning a lengthy deficit in the title race to finish top of the table for the 14th time in the last 15 seasons.
Hearts had led the standings for much of the year and appeared on course to lift the trophy after spending around 250 days at the summit. However, late strikes from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand completed a dramatic turnaround and handed Celtic the title in unforgettable fashion.
The Premiership success has also guaranteed Celtic a route into Europe’s premier club competition next term, with the Hoops entering the Champions League at the play-off stage.
That is the same qualifying round they reached this season, although supporters will hope for a far more successful outcome after the painful elimination against Kairat Almaty under Brendan Rodgers.
Among the clubs currently projected as potential opponents are AEK Athens, NK Celje, Omonia Nicosia, LASK and Viking.
Celtic are expected to be seeded for the play-off round, meaning victory over one two-legged tie would secure qualification for the lucrative league phase of the tournament.
Attention will now soon turn toward preparations for the European campaign, which begins in just three months’ time.
Before then, Celtic must also make a decision over the club’s long-term managerial future, with O’Neill currently viewed as the leading contender to remain in charge permanently — although it remains unclear whether the veteran boss wants to continue in the role beyond this season.
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2 Comments
And off course no person outside Celtic supporters maybe hibernian cause they didnt wants Hearts to win it tarnished no way it was the most exciting finish in years whole of europe followed it even world yes was a penalty .No Hearts might have got theres if player didnt dive to late after tackle by Motherwell player he has previous for going down and rolling about infact a few of the hearts players are prone to do it people say Motherwell outplayed Celtic knew as soon as other teams start bringing subs on there team weakens our team dosent get stronger its the other team are tired putting so much effort the first 50 minutes closing Celtic players down so its a squad game Martin plays who every starts the game is playing at tireing his oppisite number down and it shows ten minutes into second half thats when Celtic take over you see them getting that yard of space then after we go through our subsitution the ones left on pitch after 70 -75 minutes there forced back to there on area thats when class of our squad shows we keep the same level when the other teams squad arent as strong misses that better player Motherwell complain well the whole country complained Beaton didnt want to give it hoping but when var got involved and he seen the pictures he new everybody else was looking at the same I think he has been questioned about dodgie calls relating to Celtic And the Rangers and photos that later came out showed it was a penalty even the player knew he kept out the picture no blasting ref he knew he his hand and did hit he say on his child life he did not touch it such a foolish statement but did he say or suppose to then kick its self nerve wracking sky nearly missed all that cause of a gamble I hope somebody sacked cause the coverge was poor if it was English league we would have better camaras that would prove it on the night stop all these people running or game down by inuendues shame on them but sky had a big part to play with not enough camares no one brought that up for fear of sack spl should have it would help var in Scotland if we had the same amont of cameras as English games cant see why spl have that in contracts maybe thats why its a quessing game on some decisions then the final game went to plan for O’Neil as soon as Celitic equlized he knew Hearts were beat after second they had no fight left there players started dropping like flies the third goal any one of 5 or6 players could have scored champions again
It argues that Celtic deserved to win, claiming the match was highly exciting and widely watched, and that a key VAR-reviewed penalty decision was correct despite controversy. It criticises refereeing and media coverage, suggesting poor camera angles in the Scottish league contribute to disputed decisions. It also claims Celtic’s squad depth and substitution strategy allow them to overtake opponents in the second half as other teams tire, while opponents like Motherwell and Hearts are portrayed as fading physically and mentally late in games. Finally, it suggests Hearts “gave up” after conceding and that Celtic’s eventual victory and championship success were inevitable.