Derek McInnes makes surprising Celtic remark after Hearts win

Derek McInnes’ bizarre Celtic claim after Hearts edge past Hibs

Derek McInnes raised a few eyebrows on Tuesday night after Hearts scraped past Hibernian — not because of the result, but because of what he said afterwards.

The Hearts boss is understandably speaking with belief. With their strong form this season and Celtic faltering badly, the Edinburgh side find themselves in a position few would have predicted. McInnes insists they must view themselves as genuine contenders with 12 games remaining.

“It would be foolish to think, with 12 games to go, that we don’t,” he said. “We understand where we are in the pecking order. If Rangers and Celtic don’t win the league it’s a disaster for them. We have been convinced for a while that we’ve got a chance.”

It was that particular line — grouping Celtic and Rangers together — that felt puzzling.

From a Celtic perspective, failing to win the title would absolutely be viewed as a major failure. Given the club’s financial strength, resources and dominance across the past two decades, the expectation is clear. A disappointing summer window, managerial upheaval and an underwhelming January have contributed to a sharp decline, and supporters are rightly questioning the direction of the club.

But Rangers? That is where the comparison becomes questionable.

The Ibrox side have won just one league title in over a decade. In recent years, falling short has not been viewed as a shock — it has largely been the norm. To describe it as a “disaster” if they fail to lift the trophy feels exaggerated when measured against recent history.

There remains a tendency in Scottish football to frame Celtic and Rangers as equals in every title conversation, perhaps a reflection of a bygone era rather than current reality. While both clubs carry huge expectations, their recent trajectories are not identical.

McInnes is correct in one sense — Celtic missing out would represent a significant collapse given their advantages. Hearts, sensing vulnerability, are right to believe they can capitalise.

But suggesting the same level of catastrophe applies across Glasgow may be stretching it. For Celtic, it would be a failure. For Rangers, it would arguably be par for the course.