Marcelo Saracchi has claimed Heart of Midlothian arrived at Celtic Park for the final day of the 2023 season believing the title decider would be straightforward. The Uruguayan, then a Celtic loanee, came off the bench to help inspire a dramatic late comeback that secured the league championship for his side.

Saracchi was a second-half substitute in a match that went right to the wire. Two late goals from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand sparked wild celebrations, clinching the title for Celtic in the process. The former fan favourite has now looked back on that day.

Saracchi's rivalry perspective

Saracchi posted a social media image of himself celebrating directly in front of Shankland after the final whistle. In an interview, he downplayed any deeper story behind the clash. "It felt like something that was just part of the match, part of the moment, and part of the rivalry," Saracchi said. He described the overall experience as one of his best in football, fueled by an emotion he had never felt before with the supporters cheering him on. The defender was clear about his perception of Heart of Midlothian' mindset, quoting himself: "They came into the game thinking they had it easy."

Heart of Midlothian' current campaign

That dramatic day now serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins at the top of the Scottish Premiership. The current Heart of Midlothian side finds itself in another tight race, sitting third in the standings with 13 points from their opening seven games. They remain five points behind leaders Celtic, the same club that pipped them in that memorable finale. The team's recent form shows a mixed bag, with three wins, two draws, and two losses, while their goal difference of plus three reflects a solid but not prolific attack.

Steven Naismith's squad has been averaging just over 86 goal minutes per match this season, a statistic they will be keen to improve upon. The focus is firmly on the present, with a home fixtures against St Mirren next on the schedule for October 10th. That match presents an opportunity to build momentum, with their opponents currently positioned fifth. The team will be looking to players like James Wilson, their top scorer this season with three goals according to the club's stats, to fire them to a positive result and continue their push up the table. The squad will hope to have a full complement of players available, with any concerns listed on the club's injuries page.

This story first appeared at livescore.com