NafisaGlenn Middleton acknowledges that Dundee United are resolute in their aim to prevent a Celtic title celebration at Tannadice on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers’ treble-seeking side hold a 15-point lead over Rangers with 15 points remaining, and avoiding a loss to the Taysiders will secure their 13th Scottish Premiership crown in 14 years.
United, who earned promotion from the Championship last season and currently sit fourth, three points behind Hibernian, managed a goalless stalemate against Celtic at Tannadice in December, despite suffering two losses at Celtic Park.
As the Hoops prepare for a fourth consecutive title triumph, former Rangers winger Middleton is determined to stop an opposing team from reveling on his home turf.
He said: “It’s going be a big occasion in the making for them and one that we’ll be trying to postpone, as much as we can.
“It’s going to also be a very hard task. We know the quality that they have as a team. I think they’ve shown that the whole season through all competitions that they’ve been in, they’ve competed right at the very top.
“But we’ve shown in a couple of games that we’ve played against them this season that we’re capable of frustrating and of course, causing our own problems going forward.
“So it’s one we’re looking forward to. It’s up to us to carry out the game plan and cause them problems because we’re more than capable of doing that.”
While many assumed United would focus on stabilizing their position upon returning to the top tier, Middleton disclosed that manager Jim Goodwin set his sights on a European berth before the campaign began.
He said: “We had a meeting on the very first day of pre-season and we set realistic targets for ourselves.
“I think the gaffer won’t mind me saying now, Europe was always a goal in terms of where we thought we could maybe push for.
“The first one was to maintain our position in the league and then it was to get in the top six, but at the same time, we knew the quality that we had in the team and attitude that we had in the building as well. I think more times than not, that goes a long way.
“We had that honest conversation and an honest meeting and the goals were set out.
“I think in-house we’ve remained really sort of calm and chilled out. I think we’ve maybe used other people’s expectations of us to our advantage. No one would have really had us up there.
“But there was always a confidence in the ability that we had in the squad to carry out the tasks that we’d set ourselves and I think we’ve done really well with doing that.
“So it’s one that will keep striving towards and if we get into a situation where we find ourselves in Europe come the end of the season, then it’s been an unbelievable season.”
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