Celtic ‘so strong’ says Paulo Sergio

Published on Wednesday 8 February 2012 02:34

Hearts manager Paul Sergio aims to make sure Celtic fail in their aim to make it 13 league wins in a row when they visit Tynecastle tonight.

Victory for Hearts would provide some symmetry, since the Tynecastle club were the last team to defeat Celtic in Scotland – at the start of October. Sergio believes Neil Lennon’s side have improved since then after being freed from involvement in European football when they were eliminated from the Europa League in December.

“Maybe it wasn’t so easy in the SPL after these games,” said Sergio, who first met Lennon in the States last summer when manager of Sporting Lisbon. “However, after they were out of Europe they started winning games in our league. Victories build confidence and bring everyone together. They are so strong now, better than they were last time.”

Sergio hopes his own side improve after Sunday’s 1-1 Scottish Cup draw with St Johnstone at Tynecastle. The manager put some of the blame for that on the need to train on smaller pitches indoors due to the weather, leaving the players “out of rhythm and pace”.

“When you don’t have enough oxygen in your head your decision making isn’t good enough,” he said. “It’s the small things that make the difference in the end.”

“The match before is history,” said Sergio, with reference to the 2-0 win in October. “They [Celtic] have a very strong team with good technique and ability. They have fast players fighting for their goals but they don’t need me to speak well of them because they are already good enough themselves. In ten games we will maybe defeat Celtic three or four times. I hope this is one of them.”

Jamie MacDonald is likely to continue in the Hearts goal due to Marian Kello’s dispute with the club. Midfielder Ian Black is suspended and winger David Templeton is also out after being substituted against St Johnstone with a groin injury.

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aklistair

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:38 AM

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov's two other clubs FBK Kaunas and Partizan Minsk have been demoted from their domestic leagues in Lithuania and Belarus, respectively, after the businessman withdrew his investment from both clubs. (Sun) First Division Looming Then Jambos

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jambo64

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:13 AM

I hate to say this, but if we play celtic tonight in the way we did on sunday then we are on a belting to nothing,

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SeeEmmEss

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:15 AM

#4 Indeed. We don't want a repeat of Hearts' phantom penalty from the last meeting between them, for example.

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TommyTommy

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:02 AM

What I want to know is W.H.A.T.M.G.?...............We have a huge tax bill and wages to pay ...........Our SEASONS tajkings have vanished.............Where is the money?...........Where has All The Money Gone?............W.H.A.T.M.G.?

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Allthe9s

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:24 AM

Never mind the tactics or the training ... who is the ref and the assistants ... they will have a huge influence on the result of this game ...

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WBB

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:26 AM

Starve them of oxygen aka match them in the middle of the park and put heaps of pressure on their two cenral defenders. Do that, like we did last time at Tynie, and we will beat them. Let them play and no chance we will get humped.

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Hen Broon

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:36 AM

Web site says Temps not out yet. Hope not .....he is our key play maker. Black a big miss. However plenty of options with grainger back in the pool.Option could be to play him and put McGowan in midfield but notsure if i fancy Forrest running at him when he would be rusty. Might see young denis P making his debut in a defensive midfield role. Massive ask for a laddie making his debut but for sure he is physically capable. If Temps out I do not want to see Driver start. He rarely does it these days. I would go MacD....hamil Webster Zali McGowan...Taouil Robinson Mrowiec Rudi..... Elliot & smith. Changed my mind from yesterday . What ever our line up nit will be a tough shift but here is hoping . With a couple of tough away games coming up a win would be very welcome.HHGH

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Baldrick

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:25 AM

We have a strong squad although I think we may miss Black. Good thing imo that Templeton will be missing. He shouldn't be overplayed anyway. If Driver turns up to play and Zally doesn't self-destruct we could do well. Not a make or break game for us however so not too worried.

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