Liam Scales acknowledges the global enthusiasm for Hearts to achieve their first league title since 1960 and cautions that the Tynecastle team is likely to mount another formidable challenge in the upcoming season.
The Irish defender reveals that he and his Celtic teammates had to ignore the widespread attention on Derek McInnes’ squad leading up to Saturday’s intense title showdown at Parkhead against Hearts. Their focus was solely on securing victory.
Scales anticipates that with backing from investor Tony Bloom and his company, Jamestown Analytics, Hearts will regroup over the summer. After coming tantalizingly close to breaking the Old Firm’s long-standing dominance, they are expected to pose a significant challenge once more.
“They really found their rhythm this season and got a lot of things right. It’s understandable they might feel disappointed after leading the league for so long, but dwelling on it won’t help. I doubt they will,” he said.
“They’ll rally. I’m confident we’ll face a similar challenge from them next season.”
Liam Scales lifted the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth time at the weekend
“Outside of Celtic’s supporters and the Celtic family, practically everyone wanted Hearts to clinch this title. Blocking out that external pressure was crucial, or else it would have been extremely challenging for us,” Scales added.
‘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.’
Of course, Celtic will surely strengthen too in the summer. They will surely get their act together after this tumultuous campaign and sort out their failing recruitment set-up and refresh a boardroom that had sparked mutiny in the stands. The matter of settling upon a manager carries real time pressure too.
Scales is clear. The focus already has to be on creating a squad ready to go into the Champions League play-off round and secure a return to group-stage football at the highest level. Nothing else will do.
When quizzed on whether this was Hearts’ big chance to break the monopoly and a real missed opportunity for them, he made it clear that Celtic are in no position to take anything for granted going forward.
‘You never know,’ he said. ‘I don’t think anyone would have predicted this at the start of the season.
‘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.’
Scales expects Hearts – spearheaded by Lawrence Shankland – to be in contention again
Scales doesn’t rule Motherwell out of the equation, too, after the progress they made this term in securing European football under Danish head coach Jens Berthel Askou.
‘It is hard to predict,’ stated Scales. ‘Motherwell away was the most difficult away game this season. They were incredible the way they played.
‘They maybe didn’t pick up as many points as they deserved to. The way they played meant they conceded goals at times that other sides wouldn’t. They were the most difficult team to play against, though, and they weren’t even in the picture.
‘It is such an unpredictable league. All of us, the Rangers guys, we are all going to be motivated to come back next year and be better. It will definitely be interesting to see.’
Celtic, of course, had to win the last seven games of their Premiership campaign to retain this term’s crown, but Scales insists he never lost faith — even after a defeat at Tannadice in March that looked like it had left their hopes in the dust.
‘I really thought all along we would get back into it and hit form at the right time and win it,’ he said. ‘A lot of people in the dressing room believed that as well. That is what pushed us on to actually do it.
‘There was never a feeling of being out of it.
‘It has been an amazing season to be a part of. Obviously, at times, we weren’t at our best and that is what let Hearts in, I suppose.
‘In the last few years, when we were at our best, we had it wrapped up early on.
‘Credit to them. They pushed us to the last minute on the last day, so it is tough for them, but, for us, it is an incredible high. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that before in football. It was amazing.’
Martin O’Neill has placed his trust in Scales and the Irishman has reaped the rewards
Scales has also blossomed under the guidance of Martin O’Neill and admits he will forever cherish his time working with the legendary 74-year-old.
‘I have loved every minute of it. He put his trust in me early on and I felt that through both spells,’ he said. ‘I felt like he has trusted me, I felt like I was a foot taller going out on that pitch because of that.
‘His man management has been incredible. In key moments in key games, he makes great decisions, great substitutions.
‘He brought Kelechi Iheanacho on at half-time on Saturday and then brought on Callum Osmand, who hasn’t played for months and he scores.
‘These decisions have defined our season.’
An incredible day marred by a pitch invasion that saw Hearts players targeted. Scales describes the scenes as ‘carnage’.
Speaking before it became apparent there had been reports of Hearts players being targeted by Celtic fans on the field, he said: ‘It was pure joy, I suppose, and then, when the fans started to come on, you think: “We probably need to get off the pitch here”.
‘I didn’t know if the game was over or not. It was carnage. Obviously, they are overjoyed. It a crazy moment and an emotional moment and I loved every minute of it.
‘I didn’t see anything that crossed the line myself. It was crazy.’
