Strachan dismisses talk of crisis

Strachan has won four trophies in two seasons at Celtic

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists their poor pre-season form is nothing to worry about.

Strachan's side have failed to impress so far, losing 4-1 to Newcastle and only scraping a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire.

But the 50-year old Scot told BBC Five Live: "We're the only team in the world who can be in crisis in July.

"I've never won three pre-season friendlies with Celtic, so this is one of the better crises we're in."

Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

Strachan knows he is expected to bring a third consecutive league title to Parkhead.

We have to win three trophies, and even then you'll probably find people saying we should have won them with more goals or with a bit more flair Gordon Strachan

He added: "We've won four trophies in the last two years, and we were in the last 16 of the Champions League last year, and only got knocked out in extra-time to AC Milan, the eventual winners.

"But, being Scotland, that's not good enough.

"We have to win three trophies, and even then you'll probably find people saying we should have won them with more goals or with a bit more flair - but that's the world we live in here.

"Even Manchester United don't get this. English teams are allowed to lose a couple of games, but unfortunately we're not - we have to win the championship."

Celtic's biggest threat next season will undoubtedly come from their arch-rivals Rangers, who have witnessed an upturn in fortunes since Walter Smith returned as manager.

But Strachan played down the long-standing rivalry between the clubs.

"It's like the hype you get before big boxing matches, but you have to wait and see when you get in the ring," he said.

"But the good thing about Walter and myself, is we let it go past us.

MYSPORT DEBATE Can Celtic win their third title in a row? MySport: Have your say

"There's no pontification from Walter, or posturing from his team.

"There's a great respect between the two clubs - the players and management."

On the ever-present debate about the Old Firm's hopes of making a move to the English Premiership, and potentially winning it, Strachan said an expansion of the current Champions League set-up was a more likely route for Scotland's two biggest clubs.

"I think there's a better chance of European leagues, before you find Celtic and Rangers going in to an English league," he said.

"There might be two or three leagues - this is just my idea - but you might get the top 50 clubs saying 'right, that's enough, let's all make the cash, we'll break away, make our own league, and Uefa and Fifa can do what they want'.

"With the finances Celtic would get, they would have a chance. It would take a wee while, but it is possible."