Celtic title triumph means everything to Kris Commons

Celtic midfielder Kris Commons has revealed winning the title this season felt just as good as beating Rangers to the championship.

Celtic retained the Clydesdale Bank Premier League championship with four matches to spare after a 4-1 win over Inverness on Sunday took them beyond the reach of Motherwell.

Celtic are 15 points ahead of Stuart McCall's side ahead of their trip to Fir Park on Sunday after winning the league by a 20-point margin last year following Rangers' 10-point deduction for going into administration.

With the Ibrox club consequently going into liquidation and the team re-emerging in the bottom tier of Scottish football, Commons admitted he did not know how he would feel when they got over the line this season.

But he savoured the occasion on Sunday as Celtic clinched the title.

"I always wondered what it would be like but now we have done it, it is exactly the same," Commons told Clyde 1's Superscoreboard.

"You get all your feelings and emotions from the supporters and our supporters are some of the best in the world. I'd like to thank them for how they have been all season because it certainly makes this place rocking when we win games."

The route to the title was more troublesome than many imagined. Celtic have lost to Motherwell, Inverness, Ross County, St Johnstone, Hibernian and Kilmarnock in the SPL this season as well as losing to St Mirren in the Scottish Communities League Cup.

In contrast, Celtic exceeded all expectations in Europe, beating Barcelona and securing the club's first away win in the Champions League proper on their way to the last 16.

And that run made it a more memorable season for Commons than fighting it out with Rangers.

"We had a job to do," the Scotland international said.

"Teams aren't just going to sit back and let us win games. You have to work hard and win the matches.

"But this season was completely different to last with the European campaign.

"Hopefully the fans have enjoyed it as much as I have. It certainly whet my appetite for more European football.

"If we can get more of that it will be magnificent because it's something this club, as big as it is, deserves."

When asked about the loss of Rangers as league rivals, Commons said: "There's nothing like it in the SPL when we have that competition and those games to look forward to because the Old Firm games are exciting home and away.

"They are good for the supporters, players, the build-up and TV. But we have done more than enough in the European campaign to make up for it.

"There are nothing like European nights here - they are very special."

On his own highlight, Commons had a predictable answer: "I would have to say beating Barcelona at Celtic Park, with the team they had and the atmosphere, it was quite a magical moment.

"With the celebration of 125 years it was a spectacular night. I have got plenty of memorabilia from that night because it will go down as one of my greatest nights."

PA