Celts know we should have won

Jul 20 2008 By Gavin Berry

JEAN-CLAUDE DARCHEVILLE last night lit the blue touch paper ahead of the SPL title battle by insisting even Celtic fans knew Rangers were the best team last season.

The Ibrox striker believes their bitter rivals realised only the incredible amount of matches Gers played cost them the championship.

And Darcheville reckons the Hoops faithful's title celebrations were muted at Tannadice on the final day because deep down they knew it was a hollow victory.

He said: "The Celtic fans didn't celebrate as much as normal. They weren't so happy because I am sure they knew they won the SPL because Rangers played too many games.

"Their supporters know if Rangers had played the same amount of games as Celtic we would have won it easily.

"Man for man Rangers were the better team but we played too many matches.

"When we won the Scottish Cup no one had the strength to lift the trophy. Too many players were tired.

"I went home after the Aberdeen game on the final day and wasn't happy because the team had lost the title.

"But when I was in bed afterwards I saw game after game in my head. And I knew we had lost the championship only because everyone was too tired.

"The SFA were no good for Rangers. Normally the Scottish Cup Final can be moved one week further back so we could have had more time to recover after Aberdeen."

Darcheville's frank assessment of last season is sure to anger Rangers' rivals from across the city - but he will reserve judgment on which side will be superior this time round until the season is under way.

He said: "This time I will wait to see because Celtic have some new players. But after five or six games you can see quickly.

"Celtic and Rangers meet four times and you can tell who is better in a campaign."