This is a huge, huge week for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.
Hearts are leading the charge at the top of the Premiership table, as Derek McInnes’ side have a five-point lead over Celtic ahead of their meeting at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Before Celtic can even think about that top-of-the-table clash, it’s the small matter of dealing with the Europa League on Thursday evening, and the visit of Sturm Graz.
Put the first win on the board in Europe, and then the champions of Scotland can concentrate on Hearts, as Willie Miller is making sure not to title the game in a certain way.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesWillie Miller on making Derek McInnes ‘really angry’ ahead of Hearts vs Celtic
Hearts have only dropped points in one game this season, whilst Celtic were beaten at Dundee over the weekend, and look nowhere near their best.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Miller stated that he could call the game a ‘title decider’, but thinks it would make McInnes ‘really angry.’
Miller noted that he knows the Hearts boss really well, and he will continue to play down this game and a title charge, even if his team win.
“That one at Tynecastle will just be a huge one,” said Miller. “All eyes will be on that game. I’m not going to call it ‘a title decider.’
“We could call it and make Derek McInnes really angry, couldn’t we? But we aren’t going to call it that. From a Hearts’ point of view, they won’t be able to hide it if they beat Celtic.
“The eyebrows go down (from McInnes about the title race) or somebody puts that to him, so I know Derek very well, and he has done a magnificent job. That’s a huge game, even this early in the season.
“The issue then is, how do Hearts deal with it? How do they deal with the pressure of people talking about them as serious title challengers?
“Rangers are as well, you aren’t looking at them to get close. I know people will say that they will eventually sort it out, and they probably will. But how long is it going to take?”
Celtic fans won’t see it this way because they just want Rodgers to put title number 56 on the table.
But when you look at it without Celtic colours on, then Miller thinks this is a ‘really exciting’ time for Scottish football.
Celtic have won 13 out of the last 14 titles, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like something different is happening.
“Scottish football is really exciting,” added Miller. “I think the emergence of Hearts has been brilliant for the game. They will be tested. Celtic will be tested for that game at Tynecastle.
“And then, if Hearts come out as winners, it’s a whole new ball game for them to deal with.”