McManus: Celtic players still hurting over lost championship

Published on Friday 12 June 2009 10:10

STEPHEN McMANUS claims the Celtic players are still hurting from losing their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title to Old Firm rivals Rangers.

The Parkhead club continue their public and protracted search for a new boss following the departure of Gordon Strachan, who left three weeks ago after failing to win his fourth championship in succession.

The Celtic skipper claims the Hoops squad are unconcerned about the Parkhead board's delay in finding their new man but insists that they are still coming to terms with losing their title.

He said: "It still hurts when you don't win the league. It hurts all through the summer. It doesn't go away and it's something that you need to live with and something that will drive you on in the next campaign.

"I know the lads will be feeling the exact same because I can assure you it hurts like mad when you don't win it.

"It is the quickest summer when you do win it and it's the longest when you don't, because you just want to get back and get things going again."

McManus is continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury and will have to sit out Celtic's start to their 2009/10 campaign, as well as Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Norway in August.