Liam Scales has acknowledged that Celtic must elevate their performance levels to fend off title challenges from Hearts and Rangers and secure a sixth consecutive Scottish Premiership crown. The Hoops defender, who won the league last season, admitted that the champions cannot afford another campaign of dropped points.
Celtic's Struggles Last Season
Celtic secured the title on the final day of the 2025-26 season, leapfrogging Hearts after a dramatic finish. However, the team lost eight league games and struggled with consistency. Scales attributed this to disruptions, including multiple managerial changes. "There was a lot of outside noise, and having so many different managers in one year, it was hard to get that rhythm," he said.
Need for Improvement
Scales emphasized the need for improvement: "100 per cent. I think we know we need to be better. We need to get more points, win more games." He noted that the league's standard was high, with teams like Motherwell and Hibs pushing hard. "I felt like the standard of the league last year was really, really high," he added.
Summer Rebuild and New Signings
Celtic's management promised a major summer rebuild, but so far only £6 million striker Camilo Duran has joined. Manager Martin O'Neill is seeking reinforcements, with Egypt World Cup star Haissem Hassan and Bodo/Glimt forward Kasper Hogh on his wishlist. Scales praised Duran's early impact, noting he scored in friendlies against Sporting Lisbon and Middlesbrough. "He seems like he's really sharp," Scales said.
Pre-Season Adjustments
O'Neill has used pre-season to implement his tactics, including appointing a new set-piece coach, Ross Grant. Scales highlighted the importance of stability: "We didn't have a pre-season under Martin last season. So having a pre-season under Martin and Shaun, that's going to help us a lot." He added that the team can now focus on principles and improving their game.
Scales' Role and Expectations
Scales, who served as stand-in skipper at times, stressed the need for Celtic to be more dominant and win games comfortably. "I feel like there is room to improve, for sure. We've won a lot of games under the current staff. They're all pushing us now to improve and be better," he concluded.
