Brown pointed to the number of “leaders” among his team-mates -- six different players have captained the side this term -- but dismissed the idea that Celtic or Rangers would clinch the league because they had shown more character than their rivals.
Celtic will go two points clear with three games left if they win tonight’s 6pm kick-off. The match will be another test for Neil Lennon’s team, but Brown was confident they had the senior players to deliver another win.
“We’re all leaders in our own way and each person brings something to the table,” said Brown when it was put to him that Mark Wilson, Shaun Maloney, Daniel Majstorovic and Georgios Samaras had also captained the team. “It’s not about bottle, it’s about who wins their games. There are four games to go and they will be four big games.”
Brown pointed to the impact made by Emilio Izaguirre and Biram Kayal. “Celtic is a big club, especially for the foreign players who come in. Perhaps they do not realise how big a club it is when they sign, but when you have 60,000 people screaming at you and urging you on, it’s a great feeling. Every year is different.
“When we won it under Gordon Strachan there were a lot more Scottish boys, guys who had been around the SPL for a long time. Now we have a lot of quality foreigners who can change games within seconds. Perhaps we had been missing that in the last couple of years. And if you look at guys such as Kris Commons, he’s come into the club and been frightening. He’s scoring goals and, maybe, we missed that from out wide.”
Brown said he had refused to imagine himself lifting the league trophy in case it had a negative effect on him. “I don’t think of it. Not in the slightest. If you start thinking about things that you start planning other things and all that does is tempt fate. We are just taking every game as it comes. Inverness is a big one but we enjoy playing and we do not want the season to end. We’re all fit and enjoying each other’s banter.”
One of the game-changing signings Brown referred to, Kayal, dismissed speculation about a possible summer move out of Parkhead. The Isareli’s outstanding performances have resulted in him being linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League.
“This has been a dream season for me, both personally and for the team. I am aware of all the talk. The manager spoke to me about my contract and told me there would be speculation, but I told him I had heard all about it already. Many agents have tried to speak to me, but I don’t want to deal with them.
“My head is concentrating on the league and cup double. Only at the end of the season, can people ask me about it. It is not easy to settle abroad and I was also out three months. To return to good form, which can be difficult, has been fun for me. Since I returned I have felt good and I want to be part of this team’s success.”
Meanwhile, Lennon said he was not currently pursuing a former signing target, Erik Huseklepp, the Norway striker who joined Bari in January. Bari have since been relegated from Serie A and the player has been told he can leave.
