The run-in will be dangerous. Celtic will have to be very good to win this.

The end of the 2025–26 season is looming on the horizon at Celtic Park. There are still games left; nine in the league and perhaps two in the cup, and the Boys in green and white must do everything in their power to win every single one of them.

Hearts remain at the top of the table. They have been impressive this season, but they do not possess the one thing Celtic do. Experience of winning titles under pressure.

Final fixtures often decide everything. At this stage every match starts to feel like a cup final. Dropping points can become fatal and momentum becomes everything. Celtic simply need to find that extra bit of discipline and determination to see the job through.

Celtic still have matches remaining against Motherwell, St Mirren, Dundee and Dundee United. There is also the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren and, potentially, a final to follow. There will also be home games against our main rivals once the league splits.

Tension is building. Emotions are rising. Celtic supporters, myself included, are starting to feel those sleepless nights that always arrive during a title race. Every single match now carries enormous importance.

Once the split arrives, the remaining Premiership fixtures will become even more intense. Celtic will have three home games and two away; at home they will be facing Hearts and the Ibrox club. Hibernian, Falkirk and Motherwell also await us. Not one of those games is going to be easy, not at home or away.

Those matches will ultimately decide the title.

Motherwell could be one of the most dangerous obstacles. They are the kind of team that can become a classic banana skin. Motherwell are organised, physical and comfortable playing on the counterattack. In addition, they are capable of playing some of the best football in this league. We have them twice. Their manager has even admitted recently that his team relish testing themselves against Celtic.

The danger level there is real. The first of those games, of course, is this weekend. Celtic cannot afford a scrappy draw at this stage of the season. Still, I believe the Hoops will find a way to get the result they need.

St Mirren present another challenge. On paper they might not look like the most dangerous opponent, sitting around the middle of the Premiership table, but they have already shown they are capable of causing Celtic serious problems.

Their shock victory over Celtic in the League Cup final proved that. St Mirren were disciplined, aggressive and tactically organised that day. They dominated the game and took the trophy away from the Hoops at Hampden.

That is why they remain a dangerous opponent both in the league and in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Celtic will have to be fully focused and ready for another difficult battle.

Dundee are always awkward opponents as well. They may not be title contenders, but they can still create chaos. Dens Park is a tight ground with a hostile crowd and Celtic often have to grind out results there rather than dominate.

The danger level against Dundee is lower, but it would still be foolish to underestimate them.

Dundee United are slightly different again.

They can be unpredictable and Celtic have already dropped points against them earlier in the season. Teams like Dundee United can frustrate Celtic for long spells before suddenly scoring from a set piece or counterattack.

Still, if Celtic perform at their best they should have enough quality to win that match.

The real title deciders will almost certainly come after the split. If the race remains tight, Celtic will face all the opponents we’ve struggled against so far. Those are the fixtures where championships are either secured or thrown away.

Home advantage could become hugely important during this period. When Celtic play at Paradise the team often looks stronger, faster and more confident. Celtic Park becomes a fortress when the crowd senses that the title is within reach.

The atmosphere in those moments is overwhelming for opponents. The stadium roars and every tackle, every pass and every attack is driven forward by the supporters. Away matches are where Celtic must prove themselves just as strong. Champions cannot rely only on their home ground. They must show the same authority everywhere they go.

Fatigue also becomes a major factor at this stage of the season.

By spring the players have already fought through months of football in the Premiership, the domestic cups and sometimes Europe. Matches pile up and injuries begin to appear at the worst possible moments.

This is where squad depth becomes crucial.

A tired midfield can suddenly lose control of games. A defender who loses half a yard of pace can concede a goal that changes everything.

The run-in is not just about the starting eleven. It is about the entire squad. The players on the bench must be ready to step in when needed. Fresh legs can become incredibly valuable in the closing weeks of a campaign.

Football during the run-in also becomes psychological warfare.

Every pass, every tackle and every chance suddenly carries more weight. The pressure grows week by week as supporters and media analyse every result.

Celtic’s challenge is simple but brutal. Stay calm while everyone else begins to panic.

One defeat can create doubt. One dramatic win can lift the entire squad.

Experience becomes priceless in moments like these. Younger players bring energy and hunger, but experienced players understand the pressure of a title race.

Those players know panic solves nothing. Their job is to steady the team and focus on the next match. Step by step.

Championships are not won in one spectacular afternoon. They are built slowly through resilience and composure.

The closing weeks of the Scottish Premiership are rarely calm. Unexpected results always appear. Teams fighting relegation suddenly become giants for one afternoon. Refereeing decisions ignite endless debate.

Scottish football thrives on drama. Right in the middle of that chaos stands Celtic, trying to stay focused and navigate through the storm. The challenge is not only winning matches. The challenge is ignoring the noise surrounding the title race.

Ignore the media narrative and the mind games. Ignore the attempts to destabilise the team. The club that survives the chaos is usually the club that lifts the trophy.

Celtic supporters understand pressure too. When the run-in arrives the atmosphere around Celtic Park transforms. Every chant grows louder. Every tackle is celebrated like a goal. The supporters push the players through difficult moments when fatigue begins to bite.

Paradise becomes a force of its own. That is why the run-in matters so much. Every sprint, every tackle and every tense afternoon leads to the same destination. The title.

For Celtic, winning the Scottish Premiership is never just another trophy. It is history continuing to grow. It is pride for the supporters who live and breathe the club.

If Celtic keep their nerve through these final weeks, the reward waiting at the end could once again be something beautiful.

Not just another title or double. Another chapter in the club’s story. Another reason for the green and white half of Glasgow to celebrate.

For me the run-in is never just about fixtures on a calendar. It is about belief, nerves and determination when the pressure becomes unbearable.

Celtic have walked this road many times before.

With experience in the dressing room and the roar of Celtic Park behind them, the Hoops know exactly what must be done.

Take each game as it comes. Keep the belief burning. Fight until the final whistle of the season.

If Celtic manage that, the most beautiful sight in Scottish football could return once again.

The title coming home to Paradise.

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