NafisaDerek McInnes has finally spoken out after Hearts narrowly fell short of the Scottish Premiership title following a dramatic final-day defeat to Celtic at Parkhead.
The Hearts boss and his squad left Celtic Park in swift fashion after full-time and did not carry out any immediate post-match media obligations following the chaotic scenes that unfolded after Callum Osmand’s late third goal triggered a pitch invasion from Celtic supporters.
There had briefly been confusion over whether the match would officially be completed amid the disorder, but referee Don Robertson did bring proceedings to an end and did not abandon the fixture. Players and staff were quickly escorted off the pitch as security attempted to regain control.
McInnes then steered clear of any reference to Celtic while speaking after collecting the Football Writers’ Manager of the Year award.
Instead, the Hearts manager concentrated fully on his own team’s achievements after a campaign that saw them push Celtic right to the final day of the season.
Reflecting on the campaign, McInnes said:
“Yeah, I think in the cold light of day, when we look back, there was so much positivity from where we were at the beginning of the season.
“We always start a season with hope and expectation, and I think we’ve gone beyond all of that this season.
“So the intention now is to regroup and try and enjoy our break and be ready for the challenges ahead. I fully believe that those challenges are going to be met.
“I think the enthusiasm from everybody at the club, the drive to improve and go on and try and make it the norm for us to be challenging and try and be competing for trophies on a more regular basis.
“I firmly believe that those expectations were met.
“So, I think this season has given us so much encouragement, for us to reach 80 points, be involved in Champions League qualifiers coming up in July, club record, as I say, and so many positives from the campaign.
“We’ll look back and enjoy it, but we’ll also have that sense of frustration at times, and that disappointment to try and push us on to something greater.”
Hearts had looked set to produce one of the biggest title shocks in Scottish football history after Lawrence Shankland gave them the lead at Celtic Park.
But Celtic eventually fought back through Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Osmand to clinch a fifth consecutive Premiership title in dramatic circumstances.
Nafisa
