Silverware, not gold, motivates Celtic's Brown
Scott Brown insists the opportunity to win trophies was his motivation behind joining Celtic – not cold, hard cash.
The 21-year-old midfielder joined Celtic from Hibernian this summer in a deal worth £4.4million, after the Scottish champions beat off competition from English clubs and Rangers.
Ibrox chairman David Murray revealed at the weekend that Rangers failed in their bid because he was unwilling to blow the club’s wage structure in a bid to land the Scotland international.
But Brown hit back, insisting: “ Nobody knows what I’m on, people may think they know what I’m on but it’s totally different.
“I chose Celtic because I wanted to play for Celtic. They were a dominant force in Scotland last season, they won trophies and got to the last 16 of the Champions League.
“That’s why I want to be here.
“I want to win trophies here and go as far as possible in the Champions League.”
Brown added: “I hope I play every week, I want to play every week.
“If I don’t, I’m going to have to show the gaffer what I’m made of in under-21s games and in training.
“I’ve learned under every manager. I learned under John Collins and Tony Mowbray and I will learn under Gordon Strachan as well.”
Celtic will learn who they will face in the third qualifying round of the Champions League when they draw is made in Nyon on Friday.
They reached the last 16 of the tournament last season, only exiting to eventual winners AC Milan after extra-time, and hopes are high for another successful campaign.
Brown’s experience of European football so far is limited; Hibs were sent crashing out of the Intertoto Cup by Lithuanian side Vetra in 2004, before suffering a 5-1 aggregate thrashing to Dnipro of Ukraine a year later.
He admits that, this time last year, he could not even have contemplated the prospect of playing in football’s top club competition but is hoping the experienced he has gained from those games will stand him in good stead when Celtic’s European campaign begins in earnest.
He said: “Hibs haven’t had the best of luck in Europe but we had a few good games, which have helped me get used to playing in Europe.
“This time last year, watching the Champions League, I couldn’t have imagined that I would be playing there this season.
“It has been fantastic signing for Celtic and hopefully I’ll get the chance to play in the Champions League if we get through.”
