Motherwell Surprise Early Challengers for Scottish Premiership

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Socttish Premiership: With Hearts top of the table after six games, Rangers in a state of total chaos and Celtic looking far more vulnerable than usual despite having dropped just four points, the sight of the Scottish Premiership table is almost certainly prompting double-takes all over the world as things currently stand.

One of four unbeaten teams in the division, Motherwell currently sit fourth and could really put the cat among the pigeons with a win over the reigning champions on at Celtic Park on Sunday. The Steelmen have not won at Celtic’s ground in almost 10 years but their head coach Jens Berthel Askou says his side are bang up for the challenge this weekend despite being rank outsiders.

“I think there’s opportunities in any league, every year, if you do things right,” said the Dane in his pre-match presser. “And if you are consistent and brave and stick to what you believe, [that] is what will bring you success over time. Knowing that we are competing against clubs who have had more time together than us, who have more resources than us, it’s no excuse to not be competitive and ambitious. And that’s what we try to do.

“We know it’s going to be really, really hard to get a top position in the league when the league is over but we are going for it with everything we can. And Sunday is going to be a big game for us to show that we are serious when we say we are here to compete. It’s the key message every time we go to play a football game. We want to win and we try to set up the team with the belief that they can win. We try to play the way we play, with respect for the opponent and what their strengths are.

“Obviously, Celtic is a top team that has many strengths that we have to deal with. But it’s also a team that, like everyone else, there are possibilities. If we find our best level, then we have the ability to hurt any team in the league.”

 

[gwolf666]

Honestly, this season in the Scottish Premiership is one of the most exciting I’ve seen in a long time. Hearts being at the top already feels like a shake-up, and with Rangers in disarray and Celtic not looking as invincible as usual, the league feels wide open. Motherwell’s situation is really interesting too. It’s true they haven’t beaten Celtic away in almost a decade, but football always has room for surprises. I like what Askou said about staying brave and consistent—it shows ambition and belief. Even if the odds are stacked against them, going into Celtic Park with that mindset could make a difference. Personally, I think Celtic will still be too strong at home, but if Motherwell put up a real fight and get a result, it would be a massive statement. This unpredictability is exactly what makes the league so fun this year.