Aberdeen defender Shay Logan has accused Celtic midfielder Kris Commons of disrespecting his club’s title challenge.
The Dons’ title push came to an end on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at Dundee United, a result which meant the Hoops are champions for the fourth year in a row.
Logan was quick to congratulate the Hoops on their title win but is disappointed Celtic midfielder Commons dismissed the Dons’ feat of taking the title race to May.
The former Scotland international had claimed to have felt no pressure from Aberdeen throughout the campaign and Logan said: “It is disrespectful of Kris Commons to say there has been no title race. It’s all well and good saying that when he needed us to lose a game but he wasn’t saying that two months ago and wasn’t saying that when his team played us.
“That’s his opinion and fair play to him and Celtic for winning the league but they have to play us next week and we hope to right a few wrongs in the game.
“The head-to-head games have been a factor but there were a couple which we shouldn’t have lost. But that’s football and we have to put the ball in the back of the net when we are on top.
“Celtic have been more clinical against us but we have a good mindset at our club. Sometimes you need the ball to fall for you or a decision to go your way but that’s football. I would never have a go at a team that has won the league but there have been a few bobbles here and there and some decisions which have gone their way.”
Ronny Deila’s Hoops managed to pull away from the Dons to open up an unassailable 11-point lead at the top of the division but Logan, racially abused by Celtic midfielder Aleksandar Tonev in a game at Parkhead in September last year, believes his club can be proud of pushing the Hoops all the way.
The right back, whose performances for the Dons earned him a place in the PFA Scotland team of the year, hopes his club can run the Hoops even closer next season.
He said: “We have come a long way but with the money Celtic have everyone expects them to win the season by February or March. We’ve pushed them every step of the way and hopefully next season with a few more players we can push them a little bit more.
“I can’t tell what the future holds but I know the manager will want us to go for it next season.
“Celtic are not the side of previous years. They are a very good team still and despite what has happened between me and them in the past I have a lot of respect for them. But they are not invincible. The games we have played have been very close and we don’t fear playing anyone in this league, especially at Pittodrie.
“I’m very proud of the team and the way we have performed this season.
“Last season we were third, this year we are second and maybe next year it will be first. That is what we will be aiming for.
“I’m not despondent. Celtic have won the league by 20 or 30 points before and, with the resources they’ve got, they should, but we have a great team and manager, so we can get closer.
“We’re very close and next season hopefully we can get that little bit closer.”