Celtic team bonding, Europe, condition compared to Rangers - Joe Hart speaks candidly ahead of Dundee United match

There is a widely-held belief that Celtic’s exit from Europe has bolstered the club’s treble hopes. Yet, don’t expect Joe Hart to delight in that fact.

The 5-1 aggregate loss to Bodo/Glimt in their Europa Conference League play-off last month has provided Ange Postecoglou’s men with more than a week to prepare for their Scottish Cup quarter final away to Dundee United in the latter competition. And while Rangers travel to Belgrade on Thursday looking to book a place in the last eight of the Europa League, their title rivals will have another free midweek ahead of being afforded the opportunity to establish a six-point lead – at least for a day – when they host Ross County on Saturday.

Hart doesn’t deny that Celtic can experience a certain refreshment from stepping off the midweek game treadmill they have been on since the campaign resumed following the winter shutdown. But, without referencing the Ibrox side, it is obvious he would much rather he and his team-mates were still playing every three or four days as is required by Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men.

“They are just facts aren’t they?” the 34-year-old keeper said of whether the end of European interest would boost title hopes. “If we were still in [the Conference League] we’d be doing our best to stay in it. The fact that we’re not means it’s gone and there’s nothing we can do about it. All we can do is focus on the league and the cup. I agree that there is a difference [physically]. But the fact is you are either still in it or you’re not. If we were in it we wouldn’t be thinking about saving our legs for any other competition. We play to win every game.

“It has been hectic, but it just becomes part of your life. When you are used to something it’s not something