Ahead of midweek’s game, the Celtic star catches up with former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan to get his thoughts on the title race, as we take in a three-team photoshoot…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal gave Celtic a 2-1 lead. February 11, 2026, Scottish Premiership, Celtic vs. Livingston. Photo Kenny Ramsey. IMAGO/Press Authorization
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Hearts won the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle on Tuesday night before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a stoppage-time winner for Celtic at home to Livingston last night before Stephen Welsh, on loan from Celtic, scored Motherwell’s equalizer late in the kick-off at Fir Park to help the latest Ibrox club drop two points.
Stephen Welsh scores for Motherwell. Motherwell 1-1 Rangers. Scottish Premier League. Fir Park, February 11, 2026. Photography by Vagelis Georgariou
We head into the weekend with Celtic taking on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park and once the dust has settled on that game, rangers Host league leaders Hearts at Ibrox, where one or both of Celtic’s title rivals will drop points.
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Kilmarnock have found some goal-scoring form under new manager Neil McCann, scoring four against St Mirren at Rugby Park last night and he will be desperate to help both clubs in the later kick-off.
Celtic head coach Gordon Strachan conducts team training before their UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona on February 19, 2008. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
We also spoke to Gordon Strachan about Celtic’s come from behind to win the title in 2008, and how he managed to lead his team to sometimes unlikely title victories. Martin O’Neill’s mission at Celtic is to win games as we list three players he signed at Celtic, three of whom might surprise you.
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Special thanks to BetVictor Casino for arranging the Celtic Star interview with Gordon Strachan. That’s all it’s said…
Celtic Star asked: It looks like the Scottish Premiership title race is going to be well underway. In 2008, Celtic successfully chased Rangers and won the championship. How did you plan this victory?
Gordon Strachan: “It’s an extraordinary period for Celtic. I’ll try to put it all together. I think we were about seven points behind with eight games to go, which would normally mean the end of the title race because it was just Celtic and Rangers.
Gordon Strachan and manager Neil Lennon celebrate Celtic’s goal against Rangers
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“We had to do something extraordinary. For some reason we had to play Rangers at home twice in about two weeks and we had to win both games. We had to play really well to win those games because Rangers were a good team at the time.
“If Rangers had drawn at any time during that period it would have been over. But I had very strong players in that team. So one of the reasons was to beat Rangers twice and all they needed was to draw with us at any time to win the league. “To do that in front of a full house, when you’re under pressure and know a draw means you’re done, and the football we played in those two games was phenomenal.
“I’m not just talking about guys like Nakamura, Samaras and McGeady, I’m talking about the bravery of the back line, playing with Caldwell and McManus and the fullbacks. That’s an achievement in itself. The players and I have to be angry about the situation. If you listen to the media, social media and the noise around you, you can get too angry. We have to take that out of the equation.”
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Celtic Star asked: How did you handle the most difficult moments when you were head coach of the Celtics? Does any of this make winning any more enjoyable?
Gordon Strachan: “Don’t be mad at yourself for being in this position. As a head coach, be mad at yourself for being in this position and use all that energy to win football games. So when the media says, “Well, it’s us, because we stimulated them, we created them,‘They have nothing to do with it.
“Absolutely not, because we took it out of the equation. Me, especially, took it out of the equation. I was just annoyed with myself and the fear of failure. The fear of failure is sometimes too much for people and they break down, but we use that fear of failure to refocus.
On April 27, 2008, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Rangers manager Walter Smith watched the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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“Then, it’s hard to say, we had the Tommy Burns situation. Our assistant, probably the most popular man Celtic ever had, passed away from cancer at the time. I know the last game we played at Tannadice was actually to win the league for him. We did say, win the league for Tommy Burns, he was the most popular Celtic ever. He was up there with Billy McNeil and everybody else.
Celtic’s Scott McDonald celebrates after scoring the first goal during a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead on 27 April 2008. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
“So it’s really strange how we get back out of the situation. The players had mental strength, there was anger, there was frustration, every emotion was in it. I’ve never been in a situation like this in my life. I think only people who were there can really understand what happened. It was an extraordinary time.”
Celtic’s Barry Robson scored the winning goal from the penalty spot during a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead on 27 April 2008. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Celtic Star asked: Do you understand how frustrated Celtic fans are with this season?
Gordon Strachan: “It’s just about winning, that’s for sure. So, for Martin O’Neill at this moment, it doesn’t matter how you play, how you get along, it’s about winning. There’s no getting into the performance yet.
February 11, 2026, Scottish Premiership, Celtic vs. Livingston. Celtic head coach Martin O’Neill on the sideline. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO/Press License
“When I watch English football and English football coverage, I delve into every move, every formation, every change, the psychology of the players. It’s so in-depth. You don’t see that in Scotland at the moment. It’s all about Celtic winning, rangers Hearts are also factored into this equation. They thrust themselves into the equation. The purpose of the conversation is just to win, no one cares about anything else. So glad we have this now. “
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Celtic Star asked: As Celtic manager, which player was your best signing? Why?
21 11 06 – UEFA Champions League Group F Celtic VS Manchester United 1-0 Celtic Park Stadium, Shunsuke Nakamura scored from a free kick. Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is in trouble. Photo Ian Rutherford (IMAGO)
Gordon Strachan: “Technique-wise and the way he plays, it’s Shunsuke Nakamura. On the other hand, you get guys like Paul Telfer and Gary Caldwell on free transfers. And Shunsuke, he’s going to win every game and if you ask most Celtic fans, he’s going to be the best.
Celtic’s Paul Telfer takes part in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between AC Milan and Celtic at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy on March 7, 2007. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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“Then there was Paul Telfer who set standards in terms of training, fitness and professionalism that I could always rely on as a manager.
Celtics’ Gary Caldwell (CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images)
“Then you brought in Gary Caldwell and the game changed a bit and the centre-backs really had to be able to make some plays. The change was because a lot of teams were moving on from Celtic and getting into better shape defensively. His arrival helped us grow from the back and gave us more options going forward. I think if I were to go, there wouldn’t be one but three, but they were all different in their own way.”
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Celtic Star asked: What are your overall thoughts on the title race?
Gordon Strachan: “The momentum now is rangers. They are hard to beat. Dundee have played against them recently; rangers Win, it’s not a “wow” show. This is a system that is currently working for them. Everyone feels they are difficult to beat and now they have so much confidence in them that it makes them think they can win every game. They didn’t have this six months ago.
Stephen Welsh scores for Motherwell. Motherwell 1-1 Rangers. Scottish Premier League. Fir Park, February 11, 2026. Photography by Vagelis Georgariou
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“Six months ago, most clubs were not afraid rangers. I don’t think anyone is really afraid rangers For now, it’s like it was in its heyday, but I still think they’re wary of them. they know to defeat rangersyou have to play really well.
“I don’t think they’re going to beat anyone in the cup or against Kilmarnock when they had 10 men. I don’t think it’s cosmic football. I think Danny Rohr just gets on with it, “Well, this is my best player.” That’s how they play. This has nothing to do with the system.
Rangers will unveil new head coach Danny Röhl at Ibrox on 21 October 2025. (Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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There’s no point in having a system like this if your second-best player is sitting next to you on the bench and your third-best player is sitting next to you.
You’ll find a system that works for your best players. It’s like going back to Uruguay all those years ago, with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. They play a 4-4-2 because their two best players are forwards. There’s no way the manager would let Cavani or Suarez sit next to them. You find a system that suits your best players and they have a great international team.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan watches the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Millwall FC at Hillsborough on January 4, 2025. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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“So, I think that’s what Danny Rohr is doing. I know Danny Rohr comes in and is going to cause problems for Celtic after talking to Barry Bannan about him. I spoke to Barry Bannan at length about Danny and he thinks Rohr is a great coach. He also has a presence when he’s on TV. When players see this guy has such a commanding presence in interviews, there’s something about him that helps the players.”
Celtic Star asked: How could it be rangers What impact does Sunday’s Hearts clash have on Celtic?
“It’s an important game. I honestly think Hearts can win the league. If they do, they deserve it because they’ve beaten rangers Twice, Celtic twice. That’s some progress and what they’re doing is awesome. The problem is, and it’s a cliche everyone says, it’s the injuries, especially to Laurence Shankland and Cammy Devlin.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes celebrates after the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hearts at Ibrox Stadium on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
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“But they played well against the Celtics and they probably would have said even without them they still should have beaten the Celtics. That’s how they’ve played this year. They’ve got some momentum.”
“I’d like to see the league get to the last five games, when they stop, if those three teams are three points behind each other. Then it’s got to be a mess, a really good mess. But I think if Hearts don’t get beaten at Ibrox it’s a huge improvement for them and a big blow for them. rangers. I think the Celtics will win.
On March 3, 2008, in Barcelona, Spain, Celtic head coach Gordon Strachan trained in the Celtic training session during the second leg of the first round of the Champions League knockout round at Camp Nou. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
“A draw is the best for Celtic, then there are only two points on the table. If someone wins, it’s three points. So a draw would be the best result for Celtic.”