Celtic mentality monsters know Premiership is not enough as irrational Walter Smith fear to be turned on Rangers

When Liverpool were ruling the roost in England, Jurgen Klopp labelled his players as “mentality monsters”.

And it wasn’t just a throwaway soundbite. It’s a state of mind which separates the good from the great. A trigger switch which means they are no longer simply satisfied with the feeling of winning trophies. Rather, they become terrified of how it might feel if they do not. Ironically, it was this same, almost irrational fear of losing which Walter Smith used to credit for driving him on from one success to the next during his two glittering stints in charge of Rangers.

And now that mindset has settled on the east side of Glasgow, as Celtic’s extended period of domestic dominance moves on towards its next phase. On Wednesday night Brendan Rodgers and his players celebrated securing a third successive league title – and a 12th for the club in 13 years – as if it was the first piece of silverware they’d added to the cabinet instead of just another one for the collection. For at least one of them, though, the experience all felt very new.

Liam Scales may have been around the club for some time, looking on from the fringes of various celebrations over the last three years. But without ever being convinced that he belonged to be there. But, at the age of 25, Scales has come of age as a Celtic player. And he was right there in the thick of it at Rugby Park, having contributed 46 appearances to the campaign so far.

And yet, no sooner had the job been done with that 5-0 dismantling of Kilmarnock, then Scales was already beginning to focus on what comes next. And the dreaded realisation was sinking in that some of the shine might be taken away from this crowning moment if Celtic should not follow up with another trophy at