Frank McGarvey believes overcoming the mental anguish of laying Tommy Burns to rest may be Celtic's biggest obstacle if they are to retain the SPL championship.
McGarvey attended the funeral of his former Celtic team-mate on Tuesday and admits he felt drained afterwards.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and his entire first-team squad attended the mass at St Mary's Church in Calton, Glasgow.
And ex-Hoops hitman McGarvery feels Strachan now has a tough job getting his players mentally right for their crucial clash with Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow.
McGarvey said: "I think it will be very difficult for the Celtic players because I was at Tommy's funeral and I was mentally very tired last night after being at the chapel, the graveside and then back at Parkhead.
"It would have drained the players and I don't think it's an advantage that it's happened.
"I remember Johnny Doyle died in the early 1980s and at the time we were going very well, winning every game, and we played Hibs on the Saturday after it and none of the boys were up for the game.
"So looking back at that experience I think the Celtic boys have really got to concentrate on the game, putting Tommy out of their minds and if they do win the game then they can dedicate it to Tommy.
"They'll need to concentrate hard and make sure everything is right for the game and I think Tommy's funeral has taken away from that and it will be very difficult for the players to get back on track.
"It was mentally very draining for myself and I'd imagine the players, who have trained with Tommy every day, it must be very draining for them.
"It would be great if they could win the game and dedicate it to Tommy, but I feel it'll be very difficult for the players to concentrate after everything that's happened this week."
Celtic and Rangers are level on points at the summit of the SPL ahead of the final game, although Strachan's charges have a four-goal advantage.
A win for Celtic against Dundee United should be enough for them to clinch their third successive championship unless Rangers go on a goal spree against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McGarvey cannot see that happening and after looking down and out at one stage he believes the momentum is now with Celtic.
McGarvey, speaking at a Setanta Sports press conference, said: "The most important thing Celtic have got is momentum and they've come back.
"I thought after losing to Motherwell at Parkhead they would blow their chances but Rangers have been imploding for a wee while now with the amount of games they've had to play.
"Rangers not having a rest has been very difficult and just now they're a tired bunch of players.
"The Rangers players need to win their game as they won't win 5-0, that's an impossibility for me as Aberdeen have only been beaten four times at home and Bayern Munich couldn't beat them at Pittodrie, so five goals is out of the question."
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and his entire first-team squad attended the mass at St Mary's Church in Calton, Glasgow.
And ex-Hoops hitman McGarvery feels Strachan now has a tough job getting his players mentally right for their crucial clash with Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow.
McGarvey said: "I think it will be very difficult for the Celtic players because I was at Tommy's funeral and I was mentally very tired last night after being at the chapel, the graveside and then back at Parkhead.
"It would have drained the players and I don't think it's an advantage that it's happened.
"I remember Johnny Doyle died in the early 1980s and at the time we were going very well, winning every game, and we played Hibs on the Saturday after it and none of the boys were up for the game.
"So looking back at that experience I think the Celtic boys have really got to concentrate on the game, putting Tommy out of their minds and if they do win the game then they can dedicate it to Tommy.
"They'll need to concentrate hard and make sure everything is right for the game and I think Tommy's funeral has taken away from that and it will be very difficult for the players to get back on track.
"It was mentally very draining for myself and I'd imagine the players, who have trained with Tommy every day, it must be very draining for them.
"It would be great if they could win the game and dedicate it to Tommy, but I feel it'll be very difficult for the players to concentrate after everything that's happened this week."
Celtic and Rangers are level on points at the summit of the SPL ahead of the final game, although Strachan's charges have a four-goal advantage.
A win for Celtic against Dundee United should be enough for them to clinch their third successive championship unless Rangers go on a goal spree against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McGarvey cannot see that happening and after looking down and out at one stage he believes the momentum is now with Celtic.
McGarvey, speaking at a Setanta Sports press conference, said: "The most important thing Celtic have got is momentum and they've come back.
"I thought after losing to Motherwell at Parkhead they would blow their chances but Rangers have been imploding for a wee while now with the amount of games they've had to play.
"Rangers not having a rest has been very difficult and just now they're a tired bunch of players.
"The Rangers players need to win their game as they won't win 5-0, that's an impossibility for me as Aberdeen have only been beaten four times at home and Bayern Munich couldn't beat them at Pittodrie, so five goals is out of the question."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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