This has been a season of great paradoxes for Celtic and a prime example of that will be seen on Saturday, when wild celebration surrounds the final home game of the season. Celtic are deserving champions of Scotland – a 12th title in 13 seasons emphasises their dominance – but this situation appeared barely feasible in mid-December. They were being comfortably defeated by Hearts at home; venomous chanting from the stands was being directed at the club’s board; the team had already made their cursory, lame exit from Europe.
Brendan Rodgers may now confidently assert his side were always likely to discover rhythm when a number of players returned from injury. The point is valid. He has been in spiky form, asserting he has been “treated like a novice” since taking on the Celtic managerial post for the second time. This salty version of the Northern Irishman is entertaining and he is perfectly entitled to settle scores, but Rodgers has been in frequent danger of playing to a gallery that lap up the “put-upon Celtic” routine.
