Maeda and Kuhn Punish Hearts as Celtic Cruise to Victory
Neil Critchley made his expectations clear after Hearts’ 3-0 defeat to Celtic in Glasgow, emphasizing that the loss would not affect his squad’s confidence. Daizen Maeda’s brace and Jota’s strike effectively ended the contest before half-time, leaving Hearts to focus on damage control after the break. Speaking after the match, Critchley admitted he was unhappy with how his team retreated in the second half and took responsibility for the tactical approach.
“It’s always a dilemma coming here,” he said. “You’re up against a top-quality side. Do you take the risk and go for it, knowing what happened in the first half could happen again? Or do you sit off and concede half the pitch, knowing they might beat you anyway? We opted for a different formation, adding an extra defender but keeping three forwards to maintain an attacking threat. We had moments on the counter, but things didn’t go our way.”
Critchley Emphasizes Aggression and Club Identity
Critchley stressed that he does not want his players to lose belief in the team’s identity. “As a coach, I feel it’s my duty to uphold the traditions of this football club. Hearts have always been about playing on the front foot, being aggressive, and going toe-to-toe with opponents. That’s who we are, and I want us to get better at sustaining that level against top teams,” he added.
He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining that intensity but insisted it’s the standard Hearts must strive for. “This is the level we want to compete at every week. That’s the challenge for me as a coach and for the club moving forward. I’m committed to protecting those principles.”
Kabangu Battles Carter-Vickers and Hearts Fall Short in Key Moments
Critchley highlighted Elton Kabangu’s physical battle with Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers as one of the few positives. “It was a battle between two powerful athletes, and I thought Elton got the better of him a few times. We created some moments, got balls into the box, but just couldn’t capitalize,” he said.
He pointed to missed opportunities, referencing a key header from a corner that failed to hit the target. “It’s like Raskin’s goal for Rangers – sometimes you need that to sneak in and change the game. We had our chances, including a big one for Jamesy Wilson to make it 2-1. But if you don’t take them, Celtic’s quality can punish you.”
Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
Critchley praised his team’s effort despite the result and acknowledged the need for improvement. “I thought we started well – pressed high, stayed organized, and created some good moments. But Celtic’s first goal came from their first real attack, and we lost control in midfield. The second goal was pure quality, and at 3-0, it was about limiting the damage, which is not the type of team I want us to be.”
He reiterated that Hearts must continue to play with courage and aggression. “I’d rather we go for the game and take the risks. If we live by the sword and die by the sword, so be it. Hearts have never been a club that sits back and hopes for a break. I have no complaints about the players’ effort, and this result won’t define us. With two games left before the Premiership split, we’ll regroup and push forward.”
