No more wiggle room. Celtic are in the last chance saloon

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The Celtic Star

·05 de abril de 2026

No more wiggle room. Celtic are in the last chance saloon

Here we go again. We have been here many times already this season, at a point where we look at the game lying ahead of us and see it as the most important of the season…

Sebastian Tounekti at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Many of the previous times we have felt this way the games most certainly have been important, but no matter what the result there was always that bit of wiggle room. A defeat would have been damaging but not fatal.

Vídeos OneFootball

Today is different. We really are in the last chance saloon. Anything but three points today will be the death knell of our title challenge.

Benjamin Nygren at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The big question is does this team have it in it to go out there and prove they are still contenders, still battling to rescue a season that has been one of the most bewildering in our storied history?

The opinion amongst us fans differs wildly. Some have already given up. Not in a defeatist way, more that they have watched this team struggle all season and can’t imagine how it’s suddenly going to be able to go on a winning run that will be needed until the end of the season.

Maybe these people are basing their opinion on solid evidence and are just more realistic than rest of us.

Liam Scales at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Some think the fact we have been here before, that we are a team that has proven in previous seasons that we are serial winners, is enough evidence that our race is far from run.

They look at the other contenders and see many weaknesses, they can see plenty of dropped points between now and the end of the season. Perhaps they are right, but unfortunately this isn’t the same team that had confidence aplenty during previous seasons.

This is a team who has been inconceivably damaged during this campaign. Psychologically this team is broken.

Martin O’Neill talks to BBC Scotland at Tannadice ahead of Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The last group is where I currently reside. A group that can see both sides of the coin.

One that knows that previously we have consistently shown what we are made of when it comes to the business end of the season.

We aren’t blind however to the fact that this season has provided absolutely no inclination that this team has it in them to beat the other top five teams in this league post split. This is what makes these next two games so vital. We have to beat Dundee. We have to beat St Mirren. Drop points against either and it really is over.

Yang at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

We have players due to return soon. Hopefully Arne Engels will be available for today. Both Julian Araujo and Alastair Johnston have had set backs but both should hopefully be able to contribute after the split.

Callum Osmand is almost back and whilst it’s embarrassing we are looking towards an untested youngster to fire us to glory, his return will certainly improve us. In my mind if we can dig out six points over these next two games then we are certainly in with a fighting chance of retaining our crown.

I don’t care how it’s done, just stay in the race.

Reo Hatate at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Post split we will have players returning and our two biggest games will be at Celtic Park against Hearts and the Rangers. It will be all to play for.

This all sounds great in theory but this season has proven that no games are easy. Our trips to the city of Dundee this season have been the stuff of nightmares. Our defeat at the hands of St Mirren in the League Cup final will unfortunately live long in the minds of us all.

The omens don’t look good but if these players are ever going to slay their demons, the time is now.

Perhaps these two games can be the springboard that recharges our title challenge.

Kieran Tierney of Celtic is challenged by Luca Stephenson of Dundee United during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Or perhaps it will be yet another false dawn. We will know one way or another very soon.

COYBIG!

Conall McGinty

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