NafisaDerek McInnes has reignited the controversy surrounding Hearts’ heartbreaking Scottish Premiership title failure, insisting his former side suffered a “real injustice” and should have been crowned champions after an outstanding campaign.
The Rangers manager is preparing for an emotionally charged return to Tynecastle, where he will face the supporters who watched him lead Hearts into an unexpected title challenge before his departure from the club. However, McInnes has made it clear that whatever reception awaits him, nothing will change the way he remembers his time in Edinburgh.
His latest comments are likely to reopen old wounds among Hearts supporters, particularly those who believe contentious refereeing decisions played a decisive role in allowing Celtic to snatch the championship away from them during the closing weeks of the season.
McInnes speaks out ahead of emotional Hearts return
McInnes acknowledged that Hearts supporters may not welcome him warmly when he returns to Tynecastle, especially after his decision to take charge of Rangers following the end of his time with the Edinburgh club.
However, he insisted that any criticism he receives will not change the affection he still has for Hearts or his belief that his players achieved something special during their remarkable campaign.
Speaking during his press conference, McInnes said:
“I totally get if, you know, the treatment I get tomorrow is what it is and you could say maybe I deserve it but nothing will change how I felt about how my time was at Hearts. I loved what we had there. We had a brilliant season. My players were outstanding and we showed what could be done and I know and I think there was a real injustice that we felt that grievance towards the end of the season that we should have won a title. I wanted to be a manager that won a title outwith our own firm and, you know, but for so a few contentious decisions going against us I think we would have won.”
The statement offers a revealing insight into McInnes’ feelings about the campaign, with the Rangers boss maintaining that Hearts had done enough to win the Scottish Premiership before a series of controversial moments threatened to derail their historic pursuit.
His reference to winning a title outside the traditional dominance of Celtic and Rangers also highlights the significance of what Hearts were attempting to achieve.
For much of the season, McInnes’ side demonstrated that the established order in Scottish football could be challenged. Their performances put genuine pressure on Celtic and created the possibility of a remarkable championship triumph.
The controversial decisions that still haunt Hearts
The central issue behind McInnes’ frustration remains the series of contentious decisions that Hearts believed went against them during the title run-in.
One of the most debated incidents occurred when Celtic faced Motherwell on May 13. With the match deep into stoppage time and the score level at 2-2, a VAR review examined a possible handball involving Sam Nicholson.
Referee John Beaton ultimately awarded Celtic a penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The late winner had major implications for the title race, strengthening Celtic’s position at a crucial moment when Hearts were desperately trying to preserve their advantage.
The decision sparked widespread debate, with McInnes among those who expressed strong disagreement with the penalty award. The Hearts boss described the decision as “disgusting” and made his position clear, saying: “I don’t think it’s a penalty kick.”
For Hearts, the timing of the incident made the outcome particularly painful. A result that had appeared likely to leave Celtic dropping points instead turned into a decisive late victory, intensifying the pressure on McInnes’ players heading into the final stages of the campaign.
Although Celtic ultimately secured the championship, McInnes continues to believe that a handful of contentious decisions made the difference between Hearts achieving something extraordinary and finishing the season without the title.
Hearts had threatened to end the Old Firm dominance
What made Hearts’ campaign so significant was the scale of their achievement.
After finishing in the bottom six during the previous season, the Edinburgh club transformed their fortunes under McInnes and accumulated 80 points while pushing Celtic all the way in the championship race.
Their performances challenged the assumption that the Premiership title would inevitably be decided between the two Glasgow giants.
McInnes had openly embraced the opportunity to become a manager who could win the Scottish title outside the traditional Old Firm dominance. His latest comments show that the ambition was more than just a distant dream: he genuinely believes Hearts came close enough to make history.
The eventual outcome, however, left the club facing a painful final chapter. Celtic went into the decisive final-day meeting at Celtic Park knowing victory would secure the title, and a 3-1 win over Hearts delivered the championship.
For Hearts supporters, the disappointment was made worse by the belief that the race had been influenced by decisions beyond their control.
McInnes’ comments will do little to settle that debate. Instead, they reinforce the feeling that Hearts had a genuine opportunity to end Celtic’s dominance and that their failure to do so remains difficult to accept.
Rangers return adds another layer to the controversy
McInnes’ move to Rangers has added another dimension to an already complicated situation.
Having led Hearts through one of the most memorable campaigns in their recent history, he is now preparing to face his former club as the manager of one of their biggest rivals.
His admission that he understands why supporters might feel aggrieved suggests he recognises the emotional weight of the occasion. Nevertheless, he has refused to distance himself from his former players or abandon his conviction that their efforts deserved a different ending.
The Rangers boss’ return will inevitably place his relationship with the Hearts support under the spotlight, particularly given the circumstances surrounding his departure and the disappointment that followed the title race.
Yet his message is unmistakable: whatever happens at Tynecastle, his memories of Hearts remain positive, and he still believes the team he managed should have won the championship.
For Hearts supporters who continue to revisit the controversial moments of the run-in, McInnes has now delivered another emphatic statement of support for their grievances.
And with the Rangers manager standing by his belief that only a few contentious decisions separated Hearts from a historic title triumph, the debate over what might have been looks set to continue.
Nafisa
