Hearts Forward Claudio Braga Declares Title Pressure is on Old Firm Rivals
Hearts forward Claudio Braga has boldly asserted that the pressure in the Scottish Premiership title race rests squarely on the shoulders of the Old Firm clubs, Rangers and Celtic, rather than his own team. Despite a recent defeat at Ibrox, Hearts remain at the summit of the table with just 11 games remaining, holding a two-point advantage over Rangers and a three-point lead over Celtic, who have a game in hand.
Historic Opportunity for Hearts to Break Glasgow Stranglehold
Hearts are positioned to become the first non-Glasgow team since Aberdeen in 1985 to clinch the Premiership title, a feat that would end nearly four decades of dominance by Rangers and Celtic. Braga, the Portuguese attacker, emphasized that this historical context means Hearts are the only contenders not burdened by the weight of expectation.
'No, I don't feel we have that pressure because it's 40 years now, right? So we're doing something amazing,' Braga stated. 'We're proud of the work we're doing. Of course, the more points we can get, the better. But the pressure, I think, is on the teams that normally win the league.'
He added, 'So we have a good pressure. We just need to enjoy it as much as we can, try to go to games with a good mentality. And we're still in first place, there's still a lot to play for.'
Team Unity and Positive Mindset After Ibrox Setback
Following their loss to Rangers, which marked their fourth away defeat this season, manager Derek McInnes noted that players in the dressing room naturally reinforced their enviable league position. Braga revealed that multiple teammates spoke up to maintain morale.
'Everybody, to be honest. A lot of guys talked,' Braga explained. 'We don't care who talks. Of course, the older guys and the guys that have more experience in this league normally talk a little bit more. And we listen to that.'
He continued, 'But everybody can talk because we listen to everybody. It's just saying things that are just positive. We need to be positive. We're very united in the locker room. Everybody has a lot of confidence with each other. And I think that's what brings us here today.'
Focus on Upcoming Home Fixtures to Cement Lead
Braga highlighted that Hearts have a favorable run of home games ahead, including matches against Falkirk, Aberdeen, and Dundee at Tynecastle over the next month. He believes this schedule provides an ideal opportunity to recover from the Ibrox disappointment and strengthen their title bid.
'We're still in a good position,' Braga stressed. 'It's just frustrating, of course, when you go against a direct rival and know that we can do better. To score two goals at Ibrox, that is not always easy and we still lost the game. So, that's the frustration. But we know that we can just use that for a good thing, that is to win our next game.'
The forward concluded by emphasizing the team's collective spirit, saying, 'The way that we are playing and everything else is because we give our lives for each other. You get the frustration. You feel the loss because it's good to feel the loss. But as soon as we start the week, then we just need to start to focus on the next game.'
