Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

The only team that can stop 10 in row is CELTIC

Griffiths wants Hoops to write names into history books

- BY CRAIG SWAN

LEIGH GRIFFITHS reckons that the biggest danger to Celtic’s 10-in-a-row bid is themselves.

And the Parkhead striker is backing the heroes of nine to stick around to help try to secure the landmark title.

Griffiths and his team-mates have turned their attentions to next term’s quest having been confirmed as 2019-20 champions a week ago.

Neil Lennon’s squad have won a staggering 11 successive domestic trophies and the determinat­ion is there for the run to be extended into the future.

Griffiths knows rivals will be gunning for the champions next season as they look to halt the Hoops juggernaut.

But the attacker is convinced the quality within the ranks is such that only a drop in standards at Celtic will allow opponents to go beyond them.

He said: “It will be very difficult for teams to stop us but let’s see them have a go. Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell and Rangers especially will all be trying to stop us. It’s all about us. If we bring our A game to 90-95% of the matches it’s going to be very difficult for teams.”

Lennon has suggested there will be few changes within the group over the summer before the resumption and

Griffiths believes his colleagues will all want to be in place to make history.

He said: “Our players will always be linked with moves elsewhere. Callum

Mcgregor, James

Forrest, Odsonne

Edouard. They will all be linked with big money moves. It’s not to say they don’t deserve it, they do as they’ve been at the top of their game for so long now. “But it’ll be in their heads to stay for one more season, get to 10 and leave with everybody’s best wishes. That’d be the perfect scenario.” Griffiths is preparing to head into a seventh season with Celtic and insists he feels lucky to be in such a position. At the age of 29 the hitman is now firmly establishe­d within the set-up having been signed by Lennon for £1million in January 2014. Griffiths has bagged over 100 goals during his Hoops career but did confess coming through a crossroads at the start of this year.

Having missed a lengthy spell out through injury in the first half of last term having come back from his off-field issues, the frontman needed to prove himself to Lennon.

Griffiths put in the hard yards during the winter camp in Dubai and returned in flying form as a partner to Edouard as the champions ramped up their surge towards the ninth successive title.

He said: “The first couple of months when I came back were great. It was good being back involved with the boys but then I got injured and you struggle to get your fitness back.

“There were a lot of rumours about stuff, that you might be moved on. January was the crossroads for me.

“If I hadn’t worked hard in Dubai and showed the manager I wanted to be here and force my way into the side it could have been a whole different story.”

 ??  ?? HOT PROPERTY Griffiths knows Mcgregor and Forrest (above) as well as Edouard (right) will all be in demand now
HELLO OLD FRIEND Griffiths has been involved in seven of Celtic’s last nine title-winning squads
HOT PROPERTY Griffiths knows Mcgregor and Forrest (above) as well as Edouard (right) will all be in demand now HELLO OLD FRIEND Griffiths has been involved in seven of Celtic’s last nine title-winning squads
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