Normally I only write about Celtic, and technically today I still am. Let me rephrase that, I am completely talking about Celtic but the conversation will mention our rivals across the city because I think it is time we addressed the elephant in the room.
All this talk of Celtic “regressing” and our Glasgow rivals “improving” over the last few weeks has been all hyped up nonsense. The media narrative that the tide has turned in Rangers favour when we weren’t even into December was toe curling and embarrassing. After all this time, after that has happened in previous seasons, the narrative that somehow Rangers are unstoppable after just seventeen games was rampant in the media and the speed at the “Invincible’s” tag was being thrown around reeked of wanton desperation.
Now, I fully acknowledge that Rangers start to the season has been extremely impressive and Celtic’s has been less than impressive. Their defensive work and goal scoring has blown teams away in our league but not only that, their European form has been very good, albeit against inferior opposition (Benfica apart). But when it comes down to the brass tacks of it all, when silverware is within their grasp, true to form, they collapse. Fold like a deck of cards. And as usual, they had the league won already and the cup was in the bag due to Celtic’s exit. Some sections of the media even had them down as the best team in Europe!
It takes mettle to win a trophy. A strong winning mindset that when you need to push that little bit harder, you find it in yourself to seize the day and get over the line. Celtic have had that for decades. When the chips are down, the team always finds it within themselves to dig that little bit deeper. Against Aberdeen in the 2106/17 and Hearts in 2018/19 Scottish Cup Finals, the team had to come back from behind on both to win the cup.
Nothing is decided in December. Ever. And yet again, our rivals fall when it matters, when it REALLY matters, they can’t find that mentality required to drag them over the line. Celtic do and now it is up to Celtic to show everyone what it really takes to be Champions!