Celtic has been written off even by its friends. It can yet prove them wrong.

When club icons begin to voice their doubts about a title race publicly, it sends a shiver through the East End of Glasgow and all at Celtic.

Recently, Charlie Mulgrew and Chris Sutton have done exactly that. With only six games remaining in the title race, two men who know exactly what it takes to wear the Hoops have openly questioned whether this squad has what it takes to cross the line first.

To be honest, our immediate reaction to Mulgrew and Sutton should not be anger or cries of betrayal. It is jarring to hear former Celts speak so bluntly about a potential collapse, but their stance is not an attack.

It is a cold, hard and honest diagnosis. Celtic fans should not be outraged by that honesty. Instead, we should recognise it for what it is: a moment of truth. They are not turning their backs on Celtic. They are holding up a mirror to the reality of the current campaign.

Mulgrew and Sutton are Celts through and through, and that is why their words matter. They do not want to sugar-coat reality. These men are not pretending this current Celtic squad is brilliant when it clearly is not.

They are not pretending no improvements are needed when, in truth, the need for repair goes right to the core of the team. These men are saying these things because they care about Celtic, just as we do. At this point, I am not outraged. I am shocked, yes, but I am also trying to accept that honest opinion for what it is.

Why does the opinion of Mulgrew and Sutton carry such weight?

Because these comments feel like a punch to the gut, and they do not come from the usual media detractors or critics. This is not anti-Celtic noise designed to sell papers or generate clicks. It carries weight because it comes from two men who understand the unique DNA of Celtic.

Charlie Mulgrew has a deep understanding of what it is like in a Celtic dressing room, during times both good and bad. He knows the specific psychological burden of playing for Celtic when the margin for error disappears. Chris Sutton, meanwhile, has built a reputation on being brutally blunt. His delivery can be harsh, but he is often proved right when he makes the big calls on the direction of the team.

That is why it feels harder. It comes from inside the family.

When voices of that stature express concern, it is not a betrayal of loyalty. It is an expert reading of a situation they have lived through themselves. We, as Celtic fans, have to listen because they are not chasing headlines. They are looking at what is happening on the pitch and reacting to it honestly.

I will be honest here too. The current reality for Celtic is not encouraging.

The squad looks weaker. The defence is not right, the midfield is not right and the attack is not right either. Too many players look as though they have lost their edge, their conviction and their belief. We have dropped too many points.

I do have a feeling that the Hoops may not be strong enough this season to win the title with any certainty, but as a faithful fan I still hope Celtic prove every critic wrong and win the five-in-a-row title against the odds.

That is why doubt now has to become fuel.

It has to become a jolt, a shock to the system, a reason to wake up from this lethargy. Celtic players, in particular, should treat the words of Mulgrew and Sutton as a psychological trigger, because those comments represent a challenge. They are a direct dare to the current squad to prove the doubters wrong. They should also serve as a mental reset, the kind of jolt needed to strip away complacency before the final six games.

Right now, Celtic need to ask themselves two questions.

Do they still have the mentality? Talent wins games, but an unbreakable mindset wins titles in the run-in.

Do they truly believe they are champions and can win this fifth title in a row? There is a vast difference between hoping to win and possessing the cold, unshakable conviction that the trophy belongs in your grip.

That is the dividing line between winners and nearly teams. History remembers the sides who thrive under the pressure of a title race. It rarely has a kind word for those who blink when the stakes are at their highest.

Now, with the Green Brigade back, Celtic have something else to draw on. Their return matters. After a couple of months of suspension, the voice of Celtic is back to support the team again. The noise, the colour, the identity, that magical atmosphere, the very heart of the place, is back. Let us hope the Green Brigade can unite with the wider support and help drive the team towards this fifth title in a row.

This is what it all comes down to now. Six games. Six chances either to write ourselves into history or to let it drift away as if it never truly belonged to us.

Make no mistake, this is not just another title run-in. This is not just about five in a row. That number carries weight. It carries expectation. It demands something more than simply turning up and hoping for the best. I can feel that in my chest. It is that mix of nerves and belief, because moments like this define what a Celtic team really is.

But it is about where we go next too. Where we finish this season depends on what we can do to strengthen ourselves for the next one. It is critical to rise to this moment. It is crucial that we get ourselves over this line.

I look at where we are and I refuse to see only fear. I see opportunity, a chance to turn everything that is being said about us right now on its head.

All the doubts, all the raised eyebrows, all the voices saying we will not get it done, those things can either crush you or light a fire in you. I know what I want this team to choose. I want them to take that doubt and ram it right back down the throats of every critic. That is what champions do. They do not hide from the noise. They answer it.

Imagine it for a second, because I have.

Imagine Celtic standing there at the end of it all, league won, five in a row secured, and every single word of doubt lying in pieces. Try to hear the noise, the release and the sheer emotion of it, especially after everything that has been said and everything we have had to endure this season. That is the kind of moment that stays with you. That is the kind of moment that reminds everyone what this club is about.

So, for me, it is simple now. No more talk or excuses. No more waiting for something to click. This is the time. Right now. These six games will tell us everything about this team, about their character, their mentality and their hunger. Because when the pressure is at its highest, Celtic should be at its strongest.

We have heard the doubts.

Now we’re waiting for the answer.

Choose The CelticBlog as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.