Balde prepared to fight for title
Celtic star Bobo Balde has warned managerless Hearts they must improve to pip them to the Bank of Scotland Premier League championship.
The Edinburgh outfit are three points clear of the Glasgow giants at the top of the table after an unbeaten 11 games but there is uncertainty as to how the players will react to the shock departure of popular boss George Burley.
Balde has been impressed with Hearts’ form but he believes even if they keep playing the way they have been, that will still not be enough to hold off improving and hungry Celtic.
“Hearts are a good team and well done to them for making a good start to the season,” he said. “But it’s where you are in May that matters. We know that - and even if they keep playing well we can still improve and will reach a better standard than them.
“We’re desperate to win the championship and Hearts should definitely know that we will fight until the end.”
Balde always knew his team-mates were better than their shaky start to the campaign suggested.
Celtic have made strides since opening the season with a 5-0 drubbing to Artmedia Bratislava and 4-4 draw at Motherwell.
Gordon Strachan’s side have also been unbeaten in eight games since their 3-1 Old Firm defeat at Ibrox.
Balde told the Celtic View: “Things are getting better that’s for sure.
“But then I always told people that they would because individually we were always a much better team than we were showing at the start of the season.
“Okay, so it took a couple of months for us to show that. That’s normal. Look at how new the team was. None of us knew each other.
“There was also a new manager, a new system of playing – technically and tactically – and with all the new players it made it difficult for us to start well.
“It has taken a while for us to become a team and adjust to all these changes but you can see that we’re getting there and are already a good side.”
The 30-year-old admits his own form has improved since the early part of the season – and he puts that down to his own dedication and Strachan’s hard work.
Balde was was linked with moves from Parkhead during the transfer window but now is happy to knuckle down and turn up for extra afternoon training sessions at Barrowfield.
The Guinean international added: “Am I back to my best? Maybe, but I’d just say I’m back to normal because I always knew that, when I was fit, I could be a good player again for this club.
“I wasn’t at my best for the first few weeks of the season but a lot of things were happening at that time and now I feel that I’m stronger and better than I have been for a while.
“It’s no surprise to me though. I know why it’s happening.
“It’s because I’ve worked very, very hard with this manager and because I’m a player who tries to improve every day.”
