Celtic captain Stephen McManus claims the Hoops fans roared them on to their Clydesdale Bank Premier League championship win this season.

The Parkhead club looked to have surrendered their title to rivals Rangers after a 1-0 defeat at home by Motherwell on April 5 left Gordon Strachan's men six points behind the Ibrox club, who had two games in hand.

Victories in their last seven league matches, including the two remaining Old Firm games at home, were needed if Celtic were to have any realistic chance of retaining their championship.

A convincing 4-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park in the Hoops' next game was the catalyst needed and two victories over Rangers followed in the unbeaten run that ended with the title being sewn up with a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice in the last game of the season.

McManus, speaking at the launch of Celtic's new away strip for next season, praised the Parkhead fans for taking them over the finishing line.

He said: "I have no idea what happened to the fans but in the last seven games of the season they were tremendous.

"From the game against Motherwell away when we won 4-1, they seemed to give us an extra 10%.

"Every one of us came in to the dressing room after that game and couldn't believe how good our support had been.

"People don't realise how important the fans can be but that was one of the things that pushed us on."

While the Scotland defender is looking forward to a break after an arduous season, he admits to being envious of team-mates Artur Boruc, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras who will be appearing with Poland, Holland and Greece respectively in this summer's European Championship.

He said: "I am envious of those players who will be playing in the European Championship.

"I wish Artur, Jan and Georgios every success and hope that they do well but as a player you want to play in the World Cup and in the Euros.

"I will enjoy watching the games when I am on holiday but I would have enjoyed playing in them a hell of a lot more."

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