Joe Hart sends warning to Rangers as Celtic 'have more to give' in title race

Celtic's Joe Hart has sent a clear message to fans and their rivals, stating that the team is gearing up for an intense battle in the upcoming Old Firm derby.

The Hoops goalkeeper expressed his satisfaction with the team's position at the top of the Premiership following their impressive win over Hearts. The Parkhead faithful were treated to a stellar performance from the reigning champions, which cranked up the pressure on Rangers, who managed to secure a victory against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

However, Hart believes Celtic have yet more to offer as they prepare to accelerate their title charge, reports the Daily Record.

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After hearing the Celtic supporters' chants of 'bring on the Rangers' at the conclusion of the weekend match, Hart resonated with the fans' anticipation, saying: "Yeah, they're next up. We want to put ourselves in as good a position as we can this week so that come kick-off on Saturday, we're ready. Was it good preparation? To an extent. I still don't think we were brilliant. I still know we've got levels. We started a bit slow against Hearts, but football isn't perfect. To keep winning every game is not easy."

He added, "You're not going to just Rolls-Royce it. Even the greatest teams have to scrap and fight to earn every single point. We're no different and we're willing to do that.

"Once we start ticking, we can really play through teams. And when we're not, we're willing to put the hard work in. The fans were superb. We're only building though. We don't know yet. But we've got it all to play for and we've put ourselves in a good position."

Ahead of his 14th Old Firm clash, England's legend Hart revealed he relishes these derby clashes, but admits he'll only enjoy the upcoming one if Celtic takes the victory.

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Hart explained: "I didn't have any preconceptions. I immediately realised, having spoken to two or three people, that the common message was that you don't know what it's like until you are there. I didn't have any expectations, but I can tell you that I have loved every moment of being a part of them.

"I can't speak highly enough of the derbies I have played in previously but ultimately I'm a professional who wants to win, so I'm only going to enjoy Saturday if we put a performance in."

In recent weeks, Celtic has seen formidable performances from big name players such as Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, which Hart believes could boost this weekend's match. He added: "We'll see. It certainly can't harm us. It's all on the line and we've got plenty to work for.

"We'll work hard this week, keep everyone fit, keep everyone pushing and put ourselves in the best position we possibly can".

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