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Everybody wants Hearts to win - Celtic boss O'Neill
TL;DR
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill claims that 'everybody wants Hearts to win' ahead of the crucial Scottish Premiership title match. Celtic must win against Hearts to reclaim the top spot, while a win or draw for Hearts would secure the title for them.
Key points
- Celtic manager Martin O'Neill comments on Hearts' potential victory.
- Celtic must win to reclaim the top position in the league.
- A win or draw for Hearts would secure their first title since 1960.
- Controversy over a penalty awarded in Celtic's recent match.
Mentioned in this story
Martin O'NeillSam NicholsonAuston Trusty
CelticHearts
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill believes "everybody wants Hearts to win" as he prepares his side for Saturday's Scottish Premiership title decider.
Defending champions Celtic host Hearts (12:30 BST), needing to win to overtake them into first place. A win or a draw for Hearts would take the league trophy to Tynecastle for the first time since 1960.
O'Neill was asked about the fallout from the award of a penalty in Celtic's midweek win at Motherwell, which kept his side within a point of leaders Hearts.
At 2-2, Motherwell's Sam Nicholson jumped with Auston Trusty and, after a VAR intervention, John Beaton ruled Nicholson had committed a handball.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes described the award as "disgusting" and said his side were "up against everybody". Other prominent pundits have questioned the spot-kick, which was converted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
But O'Neill said: "It's obviously been magnified because of the occasion as much as anything else.
"Am I surprised? No, I'm not surprised, because everybody wants Hearts to win. It's really as simple as that.
"Everybody outside Celtic and the Celtic diaspora wants Hearts to win.
"And so if it wasn't Hearts, it would be Rangers, it would be somebody else. That's the nature of it."
- How much money will Hearts get in Europe next season?
- Has last-gasp Celtic penalty undermined Hearts' hopes?
Speaking specifically about the penalty award, O'Neill said: "One, I think it's a penalty. I think he's handled the ball. When you see it again properly, it is a penalty.
"In the wider scheme of things, I think that we, everybody should be looking at this. Throughout Europe, we have seen penalties given when we all think, 'well, that wouldn't have happened years ago', it wouldn't have done.
Q&A
What does Martin O'Neill say about Hearts winning the title?
Martin O'Neill believes that 'everybody wants Hearts to win' as they approach the Scottish Premiership title decider.
What does Celtic need to do to win the Scottish Premiership?
Celtic needs to win against Hearts to overtake them into first place in the Scottish Premiership.
When was the last time Hearts won the league title?
Hearts last won the league title in 1960, and a win or draw against Celtic would secure it for them this season.
What was the controversy regarding the penalty in Celtic's last match?
The controversy arose when a VAR intervention led to a penalty being awarded for a handball by Motherwell's Sam Nicholson during Celtic's midweek match.
