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New Celtic signing Adam Matthews hoping to help the club regain the SPL title
Former Cardiff full-back is delighted that manager Neil Lennon has decided to stay and cites him as the reason why he left the Championship to go and play in the Scotland
24 Jun 2011 18:55:00
By Joel Lamy
Getty Images
Celtic full-back Adam Matthews has targeted winning the SPL title after joining the club on a four-year-deal.
The 19-year-old right-back joined from Cardiff having signed a pre-contract in February.
He joins a club who missed out on the SPL by one point to Rangers despite leading the table for most of the season.
But Matthews is enthusiastic about moving to Celtic Park and wants to bring the title back next year.
"Celtic always have the pressure of competing for the title,” he told reporters.
"They came so close last year so hopefully we can go one step further and win the league.
"There is no extra pressure - it's just the same every season.
"When I knew I was coming here, I watched as many games as I could last season and I thought in the end we were unlucky not to win the league.
"But I think we have got the squad to do it this year and I'm looking forward to it."
Manager Neil Lennon recently decided to stay on as Celtic manager, a decision which Matthews was delighted with as the Northern Irishman was the reason he joined the club in the first place.
He added: "He was a big part of me joining the club. I spoke to him and he seemed like he wanted me here and I liked the way he spoke about football.
"It's a great help for me because he is the one who wanted me to come here.
"If a new manager had come in, I would have to prove myself again so I'm very happy that he is staying."
Matthews, who represented Wales in the Home Nations Cup, has said that he is already enjoying his time in Glasgow and cannot wait until the new season begins.
He said: "I've settled in very well and all the boys have made me feel really welcome.
"I had my first proper training season today, which I enjoyed, so I'm just looking forward to the season starting now.
"It definitely is a step up. There are better players and more intensity. I enjoyed it today and I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season."
The 19-year-old right-back joined from Cardiff having signed a pre-contract in February.
| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £120.00 | Draw £12.00 | Celtic £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £150.00 | Draw £14.00 | Celtic £36.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Dundee Utd XI £50.00 | Draw £37.50 | Celtic £16.70 |
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He joins a club who missed out on the SPL by one point to Rangers despite leading the table for most of the season.
But Matthews is enthusiastic about moving to Celtic Park and wants to bring the title back next year.
"Celtic always have the pressure of competing for the title,” he told reporters.
"They came so close last year so hopefully we can go one step further and win the league.
"There is no extra pressure - it's just the same every season.
"When I knew I was coming here, I watched as many games as I could last season and I thought in the end we were unlucky not to win the league.
"But I think we have got the squad to do it this year and I'm looking forward to it."
Manager Neil Lennon recently decided to stay on as Celtic manager, a decision which Matthews was delighted with as the Northern Irishman was the reason he joined the club in the first place.
He added: "He was a big part of me joining the club. I spoke to him and he seemed like he wanted me here and I liked the way he spoke about football.
"It's a great help for me because he is the one who wanted me to come here.
"If a new manager had come in, I would have to prove myself again so I'm very happy that he is staying."
Matthews, who represented Wales in the Home Nations Cup, has said that he is already enjoying his time in Glasgow and cannot wait until the new season begins.
He said: "I've settled in very well and all the boys have made me feel really welcome.
"I had my first proper training season today, which I enjoyed, so I'm just looking forward to the season starting now.
"It definitely is a step up. There are better players and more intensity. I enjoyed it today and I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season."
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