Alex Rae has suggested that anything other than a Celtic win in the Scottish cup final on Sunday would constitute “something remarkable”.
The Hoops are on track for a ninth consecutive domestic trophy, and face a Hearts side with just one win in their last eight matches, and who got beat by Neil Lennon’s side on the last day of the season.
Speaking on talkSPORT (May 24th, 12.35pm), Rae claimed that he only sees the clash going one way.
He said: “For me, it’s a stonewaller for Celtic.
“Look at the form they have, the personnel they have. They’re going for nine trophies on the bounce.
“Look at Hearts’ current form. They haven’t done anything of any substance. They’re on a losing streak.
“Unless they produce something remarkable, I can only see a Celtic winner.”
OPINION
Surely, surely, Rae is right on this one. Even if Hearts had won their last ten matches on the bounce and had given Celtic a bloody nose on the last day of the season, you would still expect the Hoops to see this one through. They know how to win this kind of match. Even if you take out of the equation the fact that they have the better players and the better form, on any given day , over 90 minutes, Celtic are the masters of seeing out cup finals. This is a team with a winning streak a mile wide, and with the relentless desire and mentality required to keep on hammering away, even when they have won a boatload already. That is what makes them such a special outfit, and that is what will see them over the line on Sunday. Nothing is ever certain in football, but honestly, you would be amazed if Rae’s premonition didn’t come true.