Derek McInnes is gearing up his Hearts squad for their most challenging match of the season as they face off against reigning champions Celtic on Sunday. The match, set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, marks a significant moment for Hearts, who currently lead the Scottish Premiership by five points after an unbeaten start to the campaign.
With eight games played, Hearts have a chance to extend their lead to eight points with a victory over Celtic. McInnes, who took charge of the team in May, acknowledges the importance of this fixture but remains cautious about getting ahead of himself. “We feel ready for it. I think Celtic provide the biggest challenge for every team in Scotland,” he stated. “You know you’re going to have to perform to get a result, but we’re going into the game feeling good about ourselves.”
This Sunday’s match will take place at Tynecastle, a venue known for its passionate atmosphere. Hearts supporters are eager to dream of their club’s potential to win the top-flight title for the first time outside the Old Firm since 1985. Despite the excitement, McInnes emphasizes that it is early in the season. “It’s eight games played, so the season is in its infancy,” he remarked.
Hearts’ impressive rise in the league follows a disappointing last season, where they finished in the bottom half. Significant changes have occurred over the summer, including an investment of around £10 million from Brighton owner Tony Bloom, who now holds a 29 percent stake in the club. Additionally, Hearts have partnered with Jamestown Analytics, the same data firm that contributed to Bloom’s successes at Brighton and Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.
To bolster the squad, McInnes signed 11 players during the summer transfer window. New arrivals like Claudio Braga, Alex Kyziridis, and Stuart Findlay have already made an impact, contributing a combined total of 10 goals and 5 assists in the Premiership. The team’s defense has also improved, as they have kept clean sheets in their last four matches after a shaky start.
“The players are in a good place,” McInnes noted. “A lot of our attacking stats have been well-documented, but four clean sheets going into the game helps us as well.” He remains optimistic but grounded about the upcoming challenge. “Win, lose or draw against Celtic, it’s not going to detract from how I feel about our team.”
Celtic, under the management of Brendan Rodgers, are facing their own set of challenges. The team has struggled recently, suffering a surprising defeat to Dundee and dropping points against Hibernian and Rangers. As they prepare for their Europa League match against Sturm Graz before heading to Edinburgh, McInnes expects Celtic to put forth a strong performance regardless of recent results.
“Some games in the Premiership are a lot tougher to win than others,” he said. “I still think there’s not a lot between a lot of the teams, and every game has its challenges, but I think this is the toughest challenge when you play Celtic.”
Looking ahead, McInnes aims to ensure his team meets the expectations of their supporters. At the start of the season, the goal was to secure European spots and pursue cup success. “We’ve got to try and meet the expectations of the supporters,” he explained. “Hopefully, we can keep riding that wave for as long as we can and keep winning games.”
As the anticipation builds for this high-stakes encounter, both teams will be eager to showcase their capabilities. McInnes believes Tynecastle will be ready, and he is hopeful that Hearts can deliver a performance worthy of their ambitions.
