Celtic have been here before.
The noise. The pressure. The endless debates that swirl around a title race when everything is on the line. This is the stage where narratives begin to take on a life of their own, where every decision is questioned, every fixture dissected, every outcome predicted long before a ball is kicked.
And this season, it feels louder than ever.
With Hearts, Rangers and Celtic locked in a three way fight at the top, the Premiership run in has already delivered tension, twists and just enough chaos to keep everyone guessing. Every point matters now. Every match carries weight.
But in recent days, the focus has shifted.
Not to what is happening on the pitch, but to what might happen off it.
The fixture list that lit the fuse
When the SPFL confirmed the post split fixtures, it did not take long for the reaction to explode.
Celtic would have three home games out of five. Hearts, the current leaders, would travel to Parkhead on the final day. Rangers would also make the trip to Glasgow’s east end in what could be a decisive encounter.
Almost instantly, the theories began.
Questions were raised. Accusations followed. And before long, familiar voices stepped in to pour fuel on the fire.
Former striker Ally McCoist was among those who did not hold back, suggesting Celtic were effectively running Scottish football. Others went even further, floating the idea that if Celtic were out of the title race by the final day, they could influence who lifts the trophy.
It is the kind of talk that grabs attention. The kind that spreads quickly.
But it also raises a deeper question.
What does that kind of noise actually do to a dressing room preparing for the biggest games of the season?
The warning from someone who has lived it
That is where Kevin Gallacher comes in.
Because he has seen this story play out before. And he knows how it tends to end.
Speaking from experience, the former striker believes all the conspiracy talk could have the opposite effect to what some expect. Instead of creating doubt, it could spark something far more dangerous.
A reaction.
Writing about the situation, he said: “You know there is still plenty of juice left in your season when the SPFL’s publication of the post-split fixture list causes such a furore.
“We had Rangers fans and their former manager Ally McCoist claiming Celtic were running the game because they have three home games out of the five, including the visit of rivals Hearts on the last weekend.
“Then there were Hearts supporters up in arms because the tradition of handing the top side going into the split home advantage (so they can potentially enjoy a flag day in front of their fans) had been ignored this time round.
“Some Rangers followers were also unhappy about that choice of final-day fixture for fear that, if Celtic were out of the title running by then, they would roll over to Hearts to prevent their Old Firm rivals becoming champions.”
It is a scenario that has been repeated in different forms across football. Suspicion. Doubt. Assumptions about what players might or might not do when the stakes are high.
But Gallacher’s next point cuts straight through it.
Because he has been on the inside when the noise gets loud.
And what he describes paints a very different picture.
The story that changes everything
Gallacher takes it back to the 1994 to 95 season. A title race that went down to the wire. A moment where everything could have swung in an instant.
His Blackburn Rovers side were leading the league, but Manchester United were right behind them. On the final day, they travelled to Anfield knowing exactly what was required.
And the talk before that game sounded familiar.
He explained: “The last one struck a real chord with me because it reminds me so much of all the chat we heard at Blackburn Rovers when we were battling with Manchester United for the title in 1994-95.
“We led the league for most of the season but United stayed with us and, going into the last game, we needed to avoid a three-point swing to be champions.
“The fixture list sent us to Liverpool for that one and everyone and his dog was telling us that because their hero Kenny Dalglish was our manager there was no way they would trip us up.
“And, of course, they beat us at Anfield 2-1. The good news was that West Ham held Manchester United 1-1, so we won the league!”
It is the perfect example.
All the talk. All the assumptions. All the certainty about how things would play out.
And then football does what it always does.
It ignores the script.
Why this could backfire on Rangers
That is why Gallacher believes the current noise around Celtic could actually work in their favour.
Because when players hear suggestions that they might not compete properly, that they might “lie down” or influence results, it tends to trigger something deep.
Professional pride.
He put it plainly: “That is a perfect example of what you should expect in these situations.
“Players might enjoy a good footballing conspiracy theory as much as the next person, but when they are on the park there is professional pride at stake.
“In fact, the more comments there are about the likelihood of them letting another side beat them on purpose, the more likely they are to go out determined to make a nonsense of the claims through.”
And that is the part many overlook.
Because in the middle of all the noise, all the theories and all the debates, there is still a group of players walking onto the pitch with one objective.
To win.
The tension is only building
As the split approaches and the fixtures begin to fall into place, the tension around this title race is only going to grow.
Every result will be analysed. Every decision questioned. Every performance scrutinised.
But if history has shown anything, it is this.
Football rarely follows the story people expect.
And sometimes, the louder the noise gets off the pitch, the sharper the response becomes on it.
Celtic now head into the run in with more than just points to play for. There is a narrative forming around them. One that questions motives, intentions and outcomes before the games have even been played.
If Gallacher is right, that might be exactly what they need.
Because nothing sharpens focus quite like being told what you are not going to do.
And in a title race this tight, that edge could make all the difference.