Strachan delight after title win

Strachan celebrates with defender John Kennedy

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was full of praise for his team after sealing a second successive SPL title.

"The best team won the league," he said. "There is a difference between the best individuals and the best team.

"My players just don't like getting beat. We have players here, like Neil Lennon, who set the standard."

Strachan then went on to single out Shunsuke Nakamura, the match-winner at Kilmarnock. "The man is a genius," said the delighted manager.

Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

Interview: Celtic captain Neil Lennon

The Japanese playmaker curled in a last-minute free-kick to seal a dramatic 2-1 win at Rugby Park.

Defender John Kennedy had much to celebrate after making his first appearance for Celtic since his long battle with a knee injury.

And Strachan added: "You are not going to believe this, but my over-riding emotions are about a man who can come back and play like that after being out for three years.

"I never spoke to him before the game, I just named the team but I just couldn't stop speaking to him afterwards.

"I said to him, 'in all your dreams, I bet you never imagined this.' "Obviously celebrating with the fans at the end was fantastic but I just can't get John Kennedy out of my head."

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn also joined in the post-match fun as the title was wrapped up with four games left to play.

"It's arguably been the best season we have had in the last 30 to 40 years," he said.

"Not only have we won the championship with games to spare, we have got to the Scottish Cup final and the last 16 of the Champions League.

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"Not only did we get there in the Champions League, we played well and only bowed out after 120 minutes at AC Milan.

"It has been a fantastic season."

Strachan replaced Martin O'Neill two years ago and has repeated the revered Irishman's achievement of two back-to-back titles in his first two seasons.

Quinn added: "Martin O'Neill had to leave for reasons we all know about and the challenge for us on the board was to find a successor who was worthy to carry forward the Celtic name and the Celtic reputation.

"We found that man - Gordon Strachan."

As for a summer transfer kitty for Strachan, Quinn added: "We will do everything we can to meet Gordon's needs.

"You have to get the season behind you before you can take a considered and balanced view of how the season has gone, where your strengths are and where your weaknesses are."