Giorgos Giakoumakis rubbished accusations he was being disrespectful after his Celtic title boast - and insists he was solely saying what he believes.
The Greek hitman claimed the Hoops have been “higher in each single a part of the workforce” than their Premiership rivals and that he believed they might win the league after his hat-trick helped down Dundee 3-2 again in February.
That got here three weeks after Celtic thrashed Rangers 3-0 at Parkhead and provoked an indignant response from Gers midfielder Ryan Jack who branded the feedback “disrespectful” forward of final week’s return in Govan.
The Hoops additionally received that encounter to stretch their lead on the high to 6 factors with six video games remaining.
However Giakoumakis insists there’s nonetheless work to be finished earlier than the champagne might be popped at Parkhead.
The striker - who was named Premiership participant of the month on Thursday - stated: “I didn’t make these feedback to make anybody indignant or really feel disrespected by me. I stated what I used to be believing for my workforce.
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“I imagine this time we performed higher as a workforce, that’s the one factor I stated however I can say additionally now that we performed superb soccer and I imagine in my workforce.
“Each single footballer can say his workforce is the very best. I don’t assume that is unhealthy.
“Any further, we've got to win the video games and do our job.”
The Glasgow rivals are on collision course once more within the Scottish Cup semi-final in 10 days’ time because the Hoops chase the Treble.
Earlier than then they face St Johnstone at Parkhead on Saturday within the last sport earlier than the cut up and Giakoumakis stated: “We all know that the league is just not over but.
“We have to win each single sport – that’s our goal.
“The goal of the workforce isn't just to win the league – it’s to win each single battle to any extent further till the tip.
“That is our job – to deal with the subsequent sport – it doesn't matter what the final sport we performed was and the way the large the win was.
“We all the time should deal with the subsequent sport and that’s what we're doing now.
“In fact it’s fairly a powerful place however as I’ve stated earlier than it’s not over.
“We now have to be centered in each single sport as there are extra video games to come back till the tip.
“Perhaps we've got a small benefit but it surely’s solely that – nothing else. We now have to guard this and maintain successful in each sport.”
Giakoumakis has netted 11 occasions in his final 14 outings because the Hoops transfer nearer to the Treble.
After Saints comes the Hampden encounter with Rangers. And he stated: “While you play for Celtic the goal is to win each trophy.
“So we've got to combat for it. We now have a powerful semi-final however proper now we’re centered on the league as a result of it’s the subsequent sport that we've got to play.
“Subsequent Monday we'll put together for the cup sport. In fact this can be a membership with massive targets and it’s one thing we'll combat for, for positive.”