The Hoops have nine games remaining and are now two points behind Philippe Clement’s Ibrox team. However, if they dominate Craig Levein’s Perth team, they might jump ahead by one.
The Govan team will take on Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday at noon. Last night, the team lost 1-0 at home to Benfica, which sent them out of Europe.
Hay is familiar with the pressure of being behind when the prized trophies are in sight for his squad.
When there were nine games remaining in the 1985–86 season, the club’s illustrious player and manager saw his team three points behind Hearts—back when a win was worth two points.
Speaking to his longtime friend and co-author of the icon’s best-selling autobiography, “The Quiet Assassin,” Hay recalled the pressure and weight of leading Celtic through an intense championship battle in one of the most nerve-wracking crescendos to any season in the club’s history in another CQN EXCLUSIVE.
“We had already been written off by many so-called experts, but I did not for one minute concede our chance of the championship had gone,” the Parkhead great remarked.
“After the incident, I am not acting sensibly. After we defeated Motherwell 2-0 at Fir Park in our second-to-last match of the season, I recall speaking with the media. We had a 3pm kickoff against St Mirren at Love Street on the same day that Hearts, who were two points ahead, were supposed to play in Dundee.
“I assured the media that we would win our match without a doubt and that, should goal differential come into play, we would score enough goals to meet our objective. The best we could aspire for was that.
The Tynecastle team could have won the flag with a draw at Dens Park; they didn’t even need to win. That was the straightforward formula. In my hometown of Paisley, the demands were clear, and I was completely certain that we would prevail.
“I recall being pulled away by Jack Adams from the Daily Record, one of the press people, following the conclusion of the post-match meeting. Jack was curious as to whether I genuinely thought what I had been saying. He winked slyly as he posed the inquiry. I came to admire the newspaper man and realized that all he really wanted was something private.
I restated my previous statement. I was convinced Celtic would take that championship. Audacity? Maybe. However, I was certain that I needed to ensure my players shared my sentiments.
I had to make sure that Hearts was under pressure at the same time. It was my responsibility to ensure that the Edinburgh Club’s stress level remained constant, as I could see it was rising.
Although their shine had faded a little, they were still producing quality work. As long as they scored one goal more than their opponents, it didn’t matter how they played.
From somewhere in the capital, I sensed a glimmer of desperation. I didn’t fall for it, even though they were making all the correct noises that might have tricked some individuals. Until it was theoretically impossible for Celtic to obtain that silverware, I wasn’t going to give up.
“Hearts lost 2-0 in Dundee, and we won 5-0 on a glorious, wonderful afternoon in Paisley. The rest is history, as they say.”
“They are definitely similar,” the former team captain retorted. The previous opponents of my club have significantly improved. There is no denying that the new management has changed things.
Since coming in October, he has improved his players’ work ethic and developed a system that works for them.
He should certainly be commended for his accomplishments; it would be rude to withhold such recognition from him, but that is all. When Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine, who was still playing right-back, shared the management reins at Hearts in 1986, they were both former Rangers players.
“Those were two people who had a knack for getting the most out of the players. During their time at Ibrox, they got the experience of winning championships.
“I can only think of two players who understood the demands to overcome the stress element and truly win a flag: former Rangers striker Sandy Clark and former Celtic center-back Roddie MacDonald.
“Among those who had truly accomplished the feat were people like Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken, Paul McStay, Murdo MacLeod, Tommy Burns, and Pat Bonner.
Even my frontman for the campaign, Mark McGhee, who I brought in from SV Hamburg, had league medals with Aberdeen.
“Brendan, the manager of today’s Celtic team, has already won two, and a large portion of the team has participated in multiple of the club’s eleven titles during the previous 12 years.
“To begin with, James Forrest has won an incredible eleven, while Callum McGregor has hoisted just eight. That is an experience you cannot purchase.
Nobody at Ibrox is capable of matching those two hauls in the slightest. There aren’t many players who have succeeded at the highest point of a league season, but I can immediately think of James Tavernier and Connor Goldson.
“That definitely counts with nine games remaining.”
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