Second guessing Ronny Deila’s Celtic team is no easy matter for St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright.
With a Europa League clash against Inter Milan on the horizon, Wright knows that any of the Parkhead players carrying knocks won’t be risked in the Saturday lunchtime Premiership encounter at McDiarmid Park.
But whoever lines up against his team, the Saints manager has seen enough of the treble-chasing Hoops over the last few weeks to know that only a very high level of performance will enable his own players to compete with them.
Wright, who watched Celtic comfortably win their last match against Partick Thistle from the Firhill stand, pointed out: “Celtic have been on a great run and are playing with high intensity both with and without the ball. If you don’t match that then you can be in for a really tough 90 minutes. They’re starting games well and have scored early so it’s key we don’t concede.
“If you look at the guys who weren’t available for Partick Thistle – Charlie Mulgrew, Kris Commons and James Forrest – then it shows just how great their squad is. I’m just hoping they have one eye on Inter Milan.
“They don’t change the back four much and the midfield three look to be settled with Bitton, Brown and Johansen but they’ve got the luxury of making whatever changes they want with the strength of their squad.
“I’d imagine they will want to win the league as quickly as possible and get as many points but whatever team he puts out will be a strong one. The Inter Milan match could have a bearing on team selection and I don’t think anyone with a niggle will be involved.
“You have players who have niggles and they can get away with it on a Saturday even if they’ve had a midweek game but he might not take chances. But we know, regardless of personnel, they play in a certain way and we’ve got to be ready.”
The Celtic players and management are openly talking up their chances of a clean sweep of domestic trophies, and Wright can see why.
“With the squad they have then Celtic should be looking to win the treble,” he stated.
“Cup competitions are difficult because anyone can win a one-off game but historically it’s always been Celtic and Rangers vying for the trophies and without Rangers in the top flight Celtic’s chances are greater.
“Celtic lacked consistency at the start of the season which happens with a new manager but they’re now playing the way Ronny Deila wants and they’re helped by the fact they’ve been able to cherry-pick two of the best players in the country from one of their rivals.
“He’s got a tough job but I’d say mine is a lot tougher. I can’t go out and get Mackay-Steven and Armstrong in the transfer window.“
Saints may be coming off a disappointing result in the Scottish Cup, but they don’t have to cast their minds much further back for a more positive experience to draw upon.
“The Aberdeen game is a template for what we’re looking for against Celtic,” Wright said. “But it’s the template for how we want to play every week – with a high tempo.
“They’re doing great at the minute and my job and the job of the St Johnstone players is to try and stop them. We know if we can match their intensity we’ll give ourselves a chance. We’ve got to make sure we don’t make any mistakes like we did for the the first goal when we last played them.
“You want a positive reaction from any defeat and the fact it’s Celtic makes my job slightly easier because they’re the champions and the players want to test themselves against the best. We go into the game looking for a reaction but under no pressure which is different from last week where we were favourites to progress in the Scottish Cup. “We’re more than capable of causing an upset but you won’t play badly against Celtic and win.”