The proof Celtic aren't panicking is stamped all over ingenious title ploy that tells Rangers 'we're the best'

Impressed Gordon Strachan reckons quiet man Daizen Maeda may have played a blinder with his unlikely Celtic title roar.

The reigning Scottish Premiership champions are in a battle with Rangers with both on 61 points after 25 games played. But the Japan international laid out the reasons why he is utterly convinced it will Celtic celebrating a 12th league title in the past 13 when all is said and done.

And Strachan reckons the timing of the battle cry is a moment of ingenuity due to the wording and the novelty of the man who delivered it to the public. Speaking to Lord Ping, he said: "As a manager, if you’re leading the pack at this stage of the season by a few points, the message to the players would typically be 'relax'. If Maeda had made those comments with Celtic eight points clear at the top of the league, then club management and staff would have probably thought, 'Really?' That would create a bit of extra pressure for the rest of the season.

"By making these comments this early, I actually think he would have boosted the confidence in the Celtic camp. Rangers have clawed the back gap on Celtic and can go top this week, but his comments tell me that the Celtic players aren’t panicking and have the belief that they can win the title this season.

"It’s great that the players have so much faith in each other. It’s great that the players think they can retain the title, that’s wonderful. That’s a positive message coming from the dressing room. For Brendan, with the pressure that he is under, it will be nice for him to hear that his players believe that they are the best team in Scotland.

"Maeda isn’t a player that craves the spotlight. I imagine that he would have made those comments in a matter-of-fact way. Celtic