Martin O'Neill in plea to Hibs fans over Hearts title race emotions as Celtic boss admits supporters sympathy
The Celtic manager has weighed in on a rumbling narrative surrounding his side’s clash with Hibs.
Martin O’Neill has urged Hibs fans to get behind their team against Celtic - amid some Hibees being keen for a Hoops win that dents Hearts title hopes.
Debate has rumbled this week over the Sunday clash at Easter Road. Chances of finishing fourth have grown slimmer for Hibs after last week’s defeat to Hearts, and while a win here would give them some hope in that European qualifiers quest, it would also open the door for their Edinburgh rivals to put one hand on the title. Three points for both sides of the city on matchday 34 would put Hearts six points clear with three games to go.
That’s left some Hibs supporters wanting their side to suffer defeat in the name of hurting their rivals. O’Neill has railed against that notion, albeit with sympathy for the predicament Hibs fans find themselves in, but he’s certain it won’t enter the home dressing room or boss David Gray’s thoughts.
Martin O’Neill on Hibs fans conflicted feelings vs Celtic
O’Neill said: “Actually, I can maybe understand that maybe some Hibs fans wouldn’t want Hearts to win the league. But that won’t cross over to their team selection and the coaching staff – absolutely not – and to the players. In fact, I think they would be more invigorated by news of that – so if I could call upon some Hibs fans to refrain from that, that would help.
“But I get it. I understand that. I’m quite sure here, something similar, some Celtic fans might not want our closest rivals, in terms of not too far away, to win the league as well too, so I don’t know. But no need to say it, a really difficult task for us. They beat us at Celtic Park as well too, so I’m sure they’ll want to complete a double over us in that sense. A big game for us, a really, really big game.
“Last week we were able to overcome Falkirk which was great in that sense, and so there is a sense as well that you’ve done that job for the weekend and then you just sit back. So mostly up until the Falkirk game, we’ve been the one that’s been playing afterwards and trying to catch up. I think after we lost (2-0 against Dundee United) at Tannadice, we were a good distance (five points) behind. But it’s only an advantage if you can win so that’s all we can do.”
What have Celtic said ahead of Hibs clash?
Winger Sebastian Tounekti added: “The form has been really good recently We are developing well at the moment, but, of course we know these games are going to be so hard. Every game is really hard, and difficult, so for us, we have to be at our best, but the motivation is so high at the moment.
“We want to win every game now, so we are going to give everything in all of these games. The mood is really high at the moment, the result in the last game was really good. So, the mood in the camp is brilliant to be honest, it’s so nice to be here now and everybody is just happy and ready to go again.”
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