Rangers gave up league chase, says Brown
SCOTT BROWN last night insisted Rangers know ‘deep down’ that Celtic deserve to be crowned Premiership champions.
The Parkhead club were 13 points clear of their city rivals with eight league games to play when football was suspended on March 13.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has accused the SPFL of lacking the energy and determination to find a way to complete the season in the top flight amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
However, Celtic skipper Brown claimed the former Liverpool and England captain had already thrown in the towel in the quest to stop nine-in-a-row when he said the Scottish Cup ‘possibly’ represented Rangers’ best chance of silverware this season before his team’s 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle in February.
‘I think even (Rangers) know deep down that we do deserve this,’ declared Brown. ‘Rangers have said in a few statements that their only chance of silverware was to win the Scottish Cup. Even they doubted themselves winning the league.
‘Their manager and everyone understood that they were never going to catch us. So they had pretty much admitted defeat already. I think that 99 per cent of
Scotland can see we were flying (when the league was suspended). I feel sorry for our players and backroom staff for people to be saying we don’t deserve it. ‘In my opinion, we totally do. It will still feel amazing lifting a (trophy) once I eventually get my hands on it.’ Meanwhile, Callum McGregor also feels Celtic will be worthy champions if the Premiership is called as it stands — with the midfielder predicting an even more emphatic margin of victory if the league ever resumes. With full training prohibited in Scotland until June 10 — at least — the prospect of the remaining fixtures being fulfilled even behind closed doors looks slim. European leagues have until May 25 to tell UEFA if they intend to complete or cancel their competitions. Speaking after Paris Saint-German were declared champions of France due to their 12-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, McGregor said: ‘Ideally, the players and everyone at the club wants to finish the season on the pitch. We want to play the games, as we were on fire in the second half of the season. We were beating teams 4-0 and 5-0. ‘It would take a monumental collapse from our side of things for us to throw it away. So, I don’t think anyone could grudge us the title if that decision has to be made. ‘I certainly feel like we would be worthy champions if the games can’t be played. ‘With eight games to go, we felt we had a chance to extend the 13-point lead at the top. Considering the form and attitude of the players, we feel there was even more to come from us. ‘But, if the league season has to be called at this point, I feel we would be deserved champions. ‘We are desperate to play the games but there also has to be perspective. It’s a horrendous situation that everyone is facing right now. ‘There is a bigger picture and everyone’s health and safety is the main priority.’