Oh, my goodness! Celtic beat Hearts today with ease!

This time they did not merely break their hearts, they practically sent them away from Paradise in seven different pieces. Seven-one.

Yes, I can’t quite believe it either!

If anyone had told me before kick-off that Celtic would produce such a dazzling, breathtaking, Champions-like performance, I would probably have asked what they had been drinking. Yet here we are.

I am proud, astounded and still slightly stunned by what I watched this afternoon. This was not simply a victory. It was a statement and a reminder of what this Celtic team can look like when everything clicks.

And Hearts? Well, dear Hearts, I hope you brought a box of tissues.

As an English teacher, I do not hand out perfect marks simply because Celtic have won a football match. I believe in examining the evidence before delivering my verdict.

Today, the evidence was overwhelming.

Celtic passed the performance test with flying colours. In fact, that may be an understatement. This was the kind of display that should be shown back to the players whenever they need reminding of what this team is capable of.

Seven goals against Hearts tells its own story, but what pleased me most was not simply the scoreline. It was the way Celtic played.

There was movement. There was attacking intent. There was confidence. There was aggression. Celtic imposed themselves on Hearts from the start and never allowed them to become comfortable.

That matters far more than one afternoon of spectacular finishing.

For weeks, we have been talking about what this team has lacked. Too often the football has been slow, hesitant and predictable. Too many players have received the ball without enough movement around them. Too often Celtic have allowed opponents to settle into games instead of forcing them backwards.

Today was the complete opposite. Celtic played with purpose. The players moved for one another. They attacked space. They moved the ball quickly and repeatedly forced Hearts into situations they could not control.

That is the Celtic I want to see.

And poor Hearts were simply unable to cope. Their supporters have spent plenty of time dreaming about this day, their revenge, about closing the gap, challenging Celtic and perhaps even taking something rather more important away from us.

Today they took seven goals out of their own net. I am being sarcastic, of course, but a result like this makes restraint rather difficult.

There is something especially satisfying about doing this to Hearts after everything that surrounded last season’s title race and all the bitterness they poured out in the aftermath of it. They had their opportunity. They had their hopes. They had their belief that perhaps the balance of power was shifting.

Today Celtic reminded them just how large the gap can become when the Champions actually play like Champions.

Perhaps someone in Edinburgh should organise a wee support group tonight. Tea, biscuits, comforting words and, most importantly, absolutely no television replays.

But putting the jokes aside, the important part of this afternoon is what Celtic now does with it. This cannot simply become one beautiful performance that we remember fondly while returning to all the habits that frustrated us before it.

It has to become a reference point. Because the lesson today was obvious.

When Celtic plays quickly, aggressively and with players constantly moving around the ball, this team becomes extremely difficult to stop.

That has to be the standard now. Not necessarily seven goals every week. I am an optimist, but even I am not quite that unreasonable.

What I want repeated is the attitude and the approach. The confidence. The willingness to attack. The belief that Celtic can dominate matches rather than merely survive them.

That is what has been missing too often.

We all understand that football does not work perfectly every week. There will be difficult afternoons. There will be frustrating matches and moments when supporters want to pull their hair out. Supporting Celtic has never been a peaceful hobby.

But today showed us what this squad is capable of when the football becomes purposeful and the players stop looking inhibited.

That is why this result matters beyond the three points.

A performance like this can change the mood inside a dressing room. It can give players belief. It can remind them what happens when they trust the system, trust one another and play with the intensity expected of a Celtic side.

The challenge now is to build on it. Do not admire this performance for too long. Use it. Take that confidence into the next game and then the one after that.

There is still plenty of football to be played and plenty of questions around this Celtic team, but today provided one very important answer.

This side can still play devastating football. It can still overwhelm good opponents. It can still turn Celtic Park into a place visiting teams dread.

That is what I wanted to see. So, what is my final mark?

A+. Seven goals. Three points. A brilliant performance and one extremely unhappy Hearts dressing room. What more could I possibly ask for?

For me, this was a reminder of why Celtic are Champions of Scotland. Not simply because the ball went into the net seven times, but because of the authority with which the team approached the game.

Celtic looked confident. Celtic looked hungry. Celtic looked dangerous. Most importantly, Celtic looked like Celtic again.

And yes, I will spare one final thought for Hearts.

Seven conceded, broken hearts yet again and a long journey home to work out what on earth just happened to them.

Perhaps next time they visit Celtic Park they should come with humility, their fans should lower their expectations.

Now, Celtic, please keep this going. Give me more football like this. More movement. More confidence. More attacking intent. Because when Celtic play this way, they do not merely win football matches. They make statements.

And today’s statement was written in seven goals.

Hail Hail!

Choose The CelticBlog as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.