It’s so hard to ‘Keep The Faith’ watching this Celtic team | OneFootball

As I watched Celtic get beaten for the second time this week, I have to admit that the faith I had in this team finally sparking into life at some point this season has completely evaporated…

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Daizen Maeda dejection after Hibs second goal. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

My patience has run out with this current Celtic squad. I’m sick to death of building my hopes up that we are going to turn a corner and go on a run this season. I’ve finally admitted to myself that it’s not going to happen. This lot don’t have it in them.

Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 Feb rural 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

I had fooled myself in the last few days into believing that yesterday could be the day we burst into life. After Thursday’s embarrassment they would fly out of the traps desperate to prove they are still the top dogs domestically. We were going to hand Hibs a beating, leaving us ready to head to Ibrox and put theRangers out of the title race. It was all a fantasy. I was listening to my heart, not my head.

If I had of listened to my head I would have seen yesterday coming a mile off. I have stated multiple times in my articles this season that this is one of the worst Celtic squads I have seen since the 90s. Many have disagreed with me on this. After what I have seen this past week, no one will change my mind on this.

Hyunjan Yang of Celtic and Nicky Cadden of Hibernian Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

This current squad is made up of three different groups.

Auston Trusty and Miguel Chaiwa. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

The vast majority are in the first category. Inferior players who shouldn’t be anywhere near our club.

The second category includes Maeda, Hatate and Yang. Players who all made it known they would have preferred to move on this season but have basically been retained because we didn’t have able alternatives lined up to replace them. Think back to ‘the wantaways’ in the Covid season, Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and Kristoffer Ajer and how that worked out.

Maeda, Hatate and Yang all previously good players who have given a lot to the club but have had their heads turned and have lost their focus.

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Martin O’Neill. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

The third category includes top players who are now on the decline. McGregor, Schmeichel, Forrest and Tierney. Once vital players for the club but now obviously past their best. The willing is still clearly there, but the output just not once what it was.

All of this creates a squad just not capable of being the winning machine we have all been so fortunate to have become accustomed to over these past few years.

It’s the end of an era and anyone who doesn’t see it needs to take their head out of the sand.

At this point I genuinely can’t see us winning anything this season. Defeatist attitude? Probably. What about keeping the faith? Well I’ve tried that but I haven’t seen anything from this squad that indicates they are capable of putting in the type of performances necessary to go on a winning run between now and the end of these season.

Talking about performances, can you honestly remember any that have been good this season?

Many will point to some of the big European results. The win in Rotterdam. The gutsy draw against Bologna. The win over Utrecht. All good results but against who exactly? Feyenoord were in the middle of an awful run of results. They had their Ultra section closed that night. Bologna were also going through a dismal spell when we met them. Utrecht were the Europa League whipping boys.

Julian Araujo and Nicky Cadden. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

The league campaign has been atrocious. We are almost in March and we have failed to beat our two biggest rivals, theRangers and Hearts, so far this season. We have lost seven out of 27. More losses than both those clubs, more than Motherwell. Same amount of losses as Hibs. Our goal difference is 21, which is way behind Hearts, Motherwell and theRangers. There have only been a couple of games the whole season I can remember us actually dominating.

We should have known yesterday was coming, I haven’t been the only one saying that we couldn’t keep pulling out stoppage time winners. I harped on that our luck was going to run out unless we improved performances. We celebrated wildly after late winners in our past two League games. They were great moments but when you are relying on last minute goals to beat the worst two sides in the league alarm bells should have been ringing.

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Referee Matthew MacDermid conveys his VAR decision on Auston Trusty red card. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO.

If I take my green tinted glasses off it’s genuinely a struggle to see how we can go on and win the title.

The only glimmer of light is that our two biggest rivals for the title are in all honesty pretty hopeless too. They will certainly drop more points this season but are we good enough to capitalise? At this point you have to say no. If anything the biggest threat could actually be Motherwell. They have the wind in their sails at the moment as the others are battling squalls.

Marcelo Saracchi of Celtic. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

Next Sunday really is the last chance saloon for Celtic.

A draw is probably no longer good enough. We have to head to Ibrox and claim all three points if we are to remain title challengers. A loss and it’s certainly over. Unlike yesterday I won’t be getting my hopes up. I’ve been let down too many times already. I would love to be pleasantly surprised come 2pm next week.

Unfortunately I’m finding it hard to be positive after yesterday’s performance and result. .

Conall McGinty

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order

More Stories / Latest News

It’s so hard to ‘Keep The Faith’ watching this Celtic team

Feb 23 2026, 8:13

“It’s a setback, but that’s what it is. We’re far from finished,” Martin O’Neill

Feb 22 2026, 20:39

Martin O’Neill says Celtic defeat is a setback in title tilt

Feb 22 2026, 18:26