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Hearts thought they had it easy at Celtic Park – we had the last laugh in unforgettable title win

In part two of Record Sport's exclusive interview with Marcelo Saracchi, the left-back looks back on that grand finale at Parkhead

Published: Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 5:00 AM
Hearts thought they had it easy at Celtic Park – we had the last laugh in unforgettable title win
Key Things to Know
  • Marcelo Saracchi claimed Hearts arrived at Celtic Park expecting an easy match before Celtic secured the league title.
  • Saracchi came on as a substitute to help create Daizen Maeda's decisive 87th-minute goal against Hearts.
  • Saracchi praised his special bond with 74-year-old manager Martin O’Neill despite communicating primarily through gestures.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Celtic left-back Marcelo Saracchi reflected on his decisive role in Celtic's dramatic title-winning victory against Hearts. Saracchi stated that Hearts entered Celtic Park believing they had an easy contest, but Celtic claimed the final victory. Coming on as a substitute, Saracchi set up the sequence leading to Daizen Maeda's 87th-minute strike before Callum Osmand added a third goal to clinch the Premiership title.

Saracchi, who joined Celtic on loan from Boca Juniors and now plays for Houston Dynamo, also detailed his close bond with manager Martin O’Neill despite a language barrier. Although Saracchi hoped to make his stay at Celtic permanent after winning both the league and the Scottish Cup, a deal did not materialize.

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