Liam Scales reckons “the whole world wanted Hearts to win the title” following Celtic’s Scottish Premiership triumph at the weekend.
For Liam Scales and all of his Celtic teammates, this title win carried extra significance over previous championships they had won.
The Republic of Ireland defender insisted nobody wanted to see Celtic win the title after Saturday’s dramatic 3-1 win over the Jambos confirmed another Premiership title for Celtic.
Ignoring the growing outside narrative surrounding what many viewed as a potential fairytale success story in Scottish football proved vital for the champions as they closed out the title race.
“If we weren’t able to block that out, I think it would have been very difficult,” Scales said via The Herald. “But I think it was key for us.
“Everyone was rooting for the other side, as I would have been if I had been on the other side. That is part of football. It would have been an amazing story for them. I think that was key for us – to block out that noise, focus on our performances and get back to our best form towards the end of the season.”
Celtic finished the season in relentless form, reeling off seven consecutive league victories to secure the title.
The Hoops ended the campaign on 82 points, finishing just two clear of Hearts in second place. Whether Derek McInnes’ side’s surge was a one-season anomaly or the beginning of a sustained challenge remains to be seen.
“I don’t think anyone would have predicted this at the start of the season,” said Scales. “That is football – it throws wild cards at you sometimes.
“They are a really good side. They are really difficult to play against – very physical, very well organised, you know they can hurt you from set pieces, their wingers are tricky and their strikers can finish. All through the pitch, they are a really good side.
“They have definitely put themselves right in the mix and I don’t think that will be them gone. It will be bitterly disappointing for them, but I am sure they will be desperate to get back next season and produce the same level of performances.
“They will obviously feel hard done by having been top of the league for such a large proportion of the season. But we can’t dwell on that. I’m sure they won’t. They will bounce back. I am sure we will see the same next season.”
Conor Spence
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