Hearts go back to Parkhead with last season's wounds still in the background and Wouter Vrancken asking for the sort of focus that keeps a team moving. Hearts' last trip to Celtic's ground ended with their title dream dying in the space of 11 crushing minutes, and 800 supporters were there to watch it unfold. Sunday's fixture kicks off at 15:00 BST.
Vrancken's message to Hearts
Speaking to BBC Sport, Vrancken made the mentality point plainly. "You can't live in the past. You have to move forward and look forward, and you have to take on the next one." He also said, "I hope the fire is there every game we play, and not only because something happened in the past. You also don't look in the past too much because it is negative energy, and we need positive energy."
That is the line he wants Hearts to carry into the game. "This fire has to burn when you play every game, especially the top games," he said.
O'Neill's view of the title race
Martin O'Neill is not treating Hearts like a side just making up the numbers. He told BBC Sport, "I genuinely do [think they are title challengers]. I know they've lost two [league] games, but overall, I do, I think they can challenge."
Hearts have taken seven points from four league games against Celtic, the most by any non-Old Firm side in a single campaign since 1999-00. Celtic have won 26 of their past 29 home league games against Hearts, although they have lost two of the last six, and they arrive on 21 points from eight matches after winning four of their last five league games.
Hearts will need that positive energy Vrancken keeps talking about, because the Parkhead record for Celtic is still the one that shapes the scale of the task.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
