Post by Taxigirl on Jan 22, 2006 11:58:19 GMT
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KO - 14:00 UK - Fir Park Stadium
Motherwell manager Terry Butcher believes Celtic can have no excuses for failing to win the Bank of Scotland Premier League title this season.
The Glasgow giants, who are about to visit Fir Park, went into the weekend seven points clear of Hearts at the top of the table and with very few distractions.
Butcher thinks Celtic's humiliating Champions League and Tennent's Scottish Cup exits have worked to their advantage.
He said: ``Hearts have been bringing in some quality players to bolster their squad but Celtic have signed well.
``Hearts are seven points behind and a couple of wins away from causing them trouble. They will keep fighting because they also know about Champions League qualification for next season.
``I wouldn't say the title race is over as Celtic can be caught with a couple of defeats. But they are in the driving seat having gone out of the cups.
``That will help them. Going out of the Champions League helped them to focus on the league. They regained their confidence after that and have stayed at the top.
``We and the rest of the SPL will have a big say. It's far from over but Celtic can have no excuses this time.''
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insisted nobody's place is safe at Celtic and revealed he is on the lookout for more new faces.
Strachan has signed 10 players since replacing Martin O'Neill, with Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller to join their new team-mates in the summer.
But Strachan has revealed he will continue to search for new players.
He said: ``We'll probably get people on trial between now and the end of the season in every position.
``It's my job to search and to see if I can get someone better than the players we have in those positions. The players understand that.''
Strachan has also signed Dundee United full-back Mark Wilson during the transfer window. The Scotland Under-21 captain looks set to start against Motherwell but the Celtic boss insists the new trio are players for the future.
He said: ``Everyone says Scottish players should get a chance with Scottish clubs and we are giving them that.
``They are young and hungry and that's great for us in the future. We've done some good work this week for the future.
``There are two agendas at the club at present. One is for the future, which is what everyone seemed to be screaming for when I came here.
``We are trying to do that at the same time as we are trying to win the championship.
``Sometimes people get confused which is which but next year our average age will come down. It will be nice to have that freshness about the place.
``We are quite willing to sign these young Scots, who are excellent players, and work with them and make them better.''
KO - 14:00 UK - Fir Park Stadium
Motherwell manager Terry Butcher believes Celtic can have no excuses for failing to win the Bank of Scotland Premier League title this season.
The Glasgow giants, who are about to visit Fir Park, went into the weekend seven points clear of Hearts at the top of the table and with very few distractions.
Butcher thinks Celtic's humiliating Champions League and Tennent's Scottish Cup exits have worked to their advantage.
He said: ``Hearts have been bringing in some quality players to bolster their squad but Celtic have signed well.
``Hearts are seven points behind and a couple of wins away from causing them trouble. They will keep fighting because they also know about Champions League qualification for next season.
``I wouldn't say the title race is over as Celtic can be caught with a couple of defeats. But they are in the driving seat having gone out of the cups.
``That will help them. Going out of the Champions League helped them to focus on the league. They regained their confidence after that and have stayed at the top.
``We and the rest of the SPL will have a big say. It's far from over but Celtic can have no excuses this time.''
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insisted nobody's place is safe at Celtic and revealed he is on the lookout for more new faces.
Strachan has signed 10 players since replacing Martin O'Neill, with Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller to join their new team-mates in the summer.
But Strachan has revealed he will continue to search for new players.
He said: ``We'll probably get people on trial between now and the end of the season in every position.
``It's my job to search and to see if I can get someone better than the players we have in those positions. The players understand that.''
Strachan has also signed Dundee United full-back Mark Wilson during the transfer window. The Scotland Under-21 captain looks set to start against Motherwell but the Celtic boss insists the new trio are players for the future.
He said: ``Everyone says Scottish players should get a chance with Scottish clubs and we are giving them that.
``They are young and hungry and that's great for us in the future. We've done some good work this week for the future.
``There are two agendas at the club at present. One is for the future, which is what everyone seemed to be screaming for when I came here.
``We are trying to do that at the same time as we are trying to win the championship.
``Sometimes people get confused which is which but next year our average age will come down. It will be nice to have that freshness about the place.
``We are quite willing to sign these young Scots, who are excellent players, and work with them and make them better.''