'The team is pretty much perfect as it is. We don't need to buy older, experienced pros'

Wednesday 11 April 2012

SCOTT Brown believes that Celtic can keep their money in the bank this summer, because there is little need for manager Neil Lennon to add to a squad that is close to perfection.

Scott Brown models some of Celtic's merchandise. Picture: SNS

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Phil Gordon

The Celtic captain feels that the new Scottish champions should resist the temptation to add age and experience for next season, claiming that the crop of young players has matured quickly under Lennon. Brown also insisted there is no chance of the side suffering from complacency for the rest of the season.

Three days after clinching the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, Brown wore a satisfied look at Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground as he reflected on the first championship under his captaincy and promoted the club's 'Champions' merchandise. The 6-0 rout of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park is the evidence Brown offers to keep signings to a minimum."I think the team is pretty much perfect as it is," said Brown. "That is shown by winning the league by 18 points. It shows you we do not need older, experienced pros. The lads are mature enough to understand that it is a big club, there is lot of pressure on us to win every week and they want to be here to win trophies and cups."It would be great to have Maradona or Pele making a comeback but, I think that, if we played like we did on Saturday, we would put any team under pressure. Once you force teams to make mistakes high up the park and keep counter-attacking then eventually they will crack, as happened at Rugby Park."Lennon invested faith in Brown by making the Scotland midfielder captain when he took over as manager. The pair were both looking for that first title in their new roles."I always had faith," Brown said. "I know how good the lads are in training and games. We have been battering teams away from home. We did not start the campaign well but as the season has gone on we have got stronger. We now understand everyone's game and the manager has more of a settled team. It is looking good for us, that's for sure."The only blemish on Saturday's title celebration was the absence of silverware to hold aloft to the 13,000 Celtic fans who squeezed into Rugby Park. The SPL are keeping the league trophy under wraps until Celtic's last game of the season at home to Hearts."We will get that in time," said Brown. "It would have been perfect last Saturday. The fans made it like a home game for us. It was incredible. Waiting five weeks is alright after four years. We've had two days off and it has sunk in. We've seen all the papers. We were all back at training today in a happy mood."Brown recognised that the turning point of Celtic's season was that comeback in October, when they trailed 3-0 at Kilmarnock at half-time but wiped out the deficit to draw 3-3. "I was injured and watched it in the house," he recalled. "We have just got better and better since then. I think the lads grew in confidence and went on an incredible run. I had faith in the lads to go out and get a point. That's when our season changed because it put pressure on Rangers as well. They dropped points that day too."Lennon's team are keen to maintain their high standard, which will please the manager with Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final with Hearts at Hampden Park on the horizon. The settling of a score with Rangers, after last month's 3-2 derby defeat, will also be a motivator."This season is definitely not over," said Brown. "We have a semi-final, with hopefully a final, and five big games left in the league. It's been a long time since we have gone into an Old Firm game as champions. It will be a good game, that's for sure."Especially being at home as well. We were favourites at Ibrox, which is the first time that has happened in many years. Whatever happened, happened. However, we can now bring them back to our way, and we definitely want revenge."

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'The team is pretty much perfect as it is. We don't need to buy older, experienced pros'

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