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<p>Hearts 3-1 Celtic</p>
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<img alt="Tynecastle's titans - Could Hearts end Glasgow's 40-year dominance of Scottish football?"
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title="Tynecastle's titans - Could Hearts end Glasgow's 40-year dominance of Scottish football?">
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">The atmosphere among the fans was strikingly different. With 56 minutes elapsed and witnessing their team score a third goal against Celtic—courtesy of a penalty from Lawrence Shankland—Hearts supporters at Tynecastle turned to the main stand to show appreciation for the figure they believe has propelled them to the top of the Scottish Premiership. “Tony, Tony Bloom!” echoed from the home crowd, while despondent Celtic fans in the away section slumped over their banners, which made no mention of their title ambitions or their local rivals, Rangers. Instead, they displayed images of four Celtic board members, marked with red lines, highlighting the fans' discontent with the club’s management.</p>
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<p>Club Comparison</p>
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<p>€18.72m</p>
<p>Market Value</p>
<p>€132.65m</p>
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<p>First Tier</p>
<p>League Level</p>
<p>First Tier</p>
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<p>€2.97m</p>
<p>Expenditures 25/26</p>
<p>€15.13m</p>
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<p>Derek McInnes</p>
<p>Managers</p>
<p>Brendan Rodgers</p>
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<p><span>Full Club Comparison</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">Following their victory on Sunday, Hearts have established an impressive eight-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. They have only dropped two points out of nine matches, marking their best start to a league campaign since the 2005/06 season, when George Burley’s team finished second behind the Old Firm. However, Hearts' performance on Sunday indicated they are aiming for more than just second place this season, even as manager Derek McInnes endeavored to temper expectations regarding a title challenge. “We’ve got a good momentum right now, but it’s just three points. It’s crucial for us to keep winning, and I’m pleased we’ve managed to do that,” McInnes remarked post-match. “We still have a lot to accomplish. The first two rounds of fixtures usually indicate where you stand.”</p>
<p>Despite McInnes’ humility, the excitement around Tynecastle is palpable. Following an investment of €11.3 million from Brighton owner Tony Bloom over the summer, Hearts have quickly emerged as one of Scotland's most improved clubs. This progress can be attributed not only to McInnes’ work with the squad but also to Hearts outpacing their underperforming domestic rivals, which is evident in the league standings. If they capitalize on the chaos affecting both Glasgow clubs, Scottish football may witness its first champions outside of Glasgow since 1985. So, what has led to such a rapid transformation in the Scottish top-flight? Let’s delve into the details.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Celtic’s Sudden Decline</h2>
<p>To grasp why Celtic is struggling to secure yet another league title, we must examine the lineup they fielded on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers’ squad was missing significant first-team players due to injuries, including Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota, and Daizen Maeda, and the team's performance revealed a side ravaged by the summer transfer window without fully recovering from its effects. During this window, Celtic sold Nicolas Kühn to Como for €19 million and Adam Idah to Swansea for €6.9 million. Last season, they parted with Matt O’Riley for €29.5 million to Brighton and Kyogo Furuhashi for €12 million to Stade Rennais. Since Rodgers' return in summer 2023, the club has generated €133 million from player sales while investing just €88 million to replace those who left, and this imbalance is starting to manifest on the pitch.</p>
<p>Alongside a rocky start to the league season, Celtic stumbled during Champions League qualifying, struggling to replace a high turnover of players while also facing strong opposition in Europe. They were ultimately eliminated by Kairat Almaty and have secured just one win from their first three Europa League matches. In a press conference reflecting on the season's poor start, Rodgers admitted that the club did not navigate these challenges effectively. “Our business model is fundamentally successful. However, we need to align it with our on-pitch performance,” he noted. “Investment timing was critical. We were clear on what we needed, but we weren't prepared for these qualification matches.”</p>
<p>The fallout from the club’s underwhelming performances this season has led to speculation about Rodgers potentially leaving when his current contract expires at season’s end. Although he confirmed discussions on a new contract earlier in the season, no agreements have been announced. "My primary concern is to help the club progress," he stated in August, subtly hinting at needing assurances on squad investment to remain in Glasgow. "I’m focused on building and developing players. If the club desires that vision, I’m sure we could reach an agreement; if not, I’ll give my all until the very end." Essentially, if Celtic wants Rodgers to stay, they will need to enhance their investment in the squad during the next transfer window.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Bloom Transformation at Hearts</h2>
<p>When Bloom invested in Hearts earlier this year, he expressed a desire to “disrupt the long-standing pattern of dominance,” but even he might not have anticipated how rapidly the Edinburgh club would ascend the ranks. This surge has been aided by Celtic’s struggles, as well as Rangers’ ongoing issues—the Ibrox club recently hired its fifth manager in four years. While the traditional Scottish champions have stumbled off the field, Hearts have capitalized on the power vacuum at the top of the Scottish Premiership.</p>
<p>Often, Scottish top-flight clubs rely on signings from other domestic clubs or over-rely on loan players from England. However, an impressive nine of Hearts' ten summer recruits came from outside the UK. Whether it was Cláudio Braga and Christian Borchgrevink from Norway, Alexandros Kyziridis from Serbia, or club record signing Ageu from Portugal’s Santa Clara, Hearts’ summer acquisitions reflected the influence of Jamestown Analytics—Bloom’s renowned data service known for aiding his other clubs’ success in England and Belgium. Unsurprisingly, the new signings have made significant contributions to McInnes’ squad.</p>
<p>For instance, Braga has already netted an astonishing eight goals and provided four assists in his first 14 outings, while left winger Kyziridis has also shone with five goals and five assists in 12 appearances. Collectively, McInnes’ new recruits have scored 11 league goals in the season’s first nine fixtures, only surpassed by Dundee United’s 14 goals from new signings. Comparatively, both Celtic and Rangers have each seen only six goals from their new arrivals. With further validation of their success, Hearts managed to retain star striker Shankland, who has eight goals and three assists in 13 games this season, showcasing how effective their summer transfer strategy has been.</p>
<p>Hearts have undergone a significant transformation over the past six months. The last encounter with Celtic before the recent 3-1 victory was back in April when Rodgers’ team breezed past Hearts with a 3-0 win against a side that had just parted ways with manager Neil Critchley. The club barely avoided relegation shortly thereafter, but the fan response included chants of “sack the board.” Since that time, Ann Budge, who has been at the helm since 2014, has announced her intention to step down at this year's AGM in December.</p>
<p>Whether Budge’s departure is the result of last season's turmoil or Bloom’s expanding influence remains uncertain, but there is no doubt that Hearts are in significantly better shape as they finish 2025 than when they began it. While it remains to be seen if this exceptional form can maintain, one fact is clear: as Celtic and Rangers navigate their internal conflicts, McInnes’ side appear poised to seize the opportunity on the field. It has been 40 years since Scottish football last witnessed a title celebration outside of Celtic Park or Ibrox. If Tynecastle becomes the venue for one this May, it will undoubtedly be one of the most remarkable stories in European football this season.</p>
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