Strachan’s fighting talk as he relishes challenge

no favours for celtic as hibs still chase uefa cup place

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Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has launched a fierce attack on his critics.

The champions will keep their SPL defence alive if they beat Hibernian at home tomorrow.

Rangers have the chance to close the gap to one point today against Dundee United and could go top with games in hand against Motherwell and St Mirren.

Celtic have the opportunity to set up a thrilling finale, one which looked unlikely when Celtic lost to Motherwell at the start of April to leave them six points adrift with two extra games played.

Strachan, who collected the SPL manager of the month award for April yesterday while Hoops midfielder Barry Robson won the player prize, believes his Hoops have not merited the criticism they have received.

He said: “I sat two months ago and said ‘with the position we are in just now, if we get to the last game of the season and it’s still going, that would be great’.

“I just like to be involved in it. It’s a different challenge from last year when we were miles ahead and kind of stumbled over the line.

“This time we are chasing and it’s been different. It has been a new kind of management.

“I think as you can see, we have relished the challenge, both as coaches and players.

“It’s a bit different and I hope it goes right to the wire to get something exciting going.”

Celtic will surpass their points total for last season if they beat Hibs but Strachan is sure that fact will be forgotten in the midst of a title race with their Glasgow rivals. He said: “Nothing is in perspective in this town. People talk without thinking, people talk without watching, people talk without knowledge. People talk with a bias, some people talk with a bitterness. Fortunately, I’m not like that, I just get on with reality.

“During our sticky period of results we were playing terrific football. Everybody knew that but it didn’t make good copy. It’s all about results but we did keep believing that we could do this. It was good of the players to believe.”

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen is aiming to make the Celtic supporters restless by frustrating their hosts at Parkhead.

Paatelainen said: “We can take advantage if the crowd get edgy if the game goes our way.

“I am sure they will come out strongly and try to score early goals. Celtic have been winning recently so the title race is wide open now. We took a point off Rangers last week, so, hopefully, we can upset Celtic this week.

“We know we have to defend well. We look after our interests and try to accumulate as many points as possible to try to get into the Uefa Cup.”