Gordon Strachan believes Celtic may be missing the kind of standards Scott Brown once drove inside the dressing room.
Brown arrived at Celtic from Hibernian in 2007 and went on to become one of the most important figures of the modern era. For Strachan, his value was not just in what he did on the pitch, but in the way he came to understand the club and pass those expectations on to others.
Speaking about Brown, Strachan said: (Midnite Sports), “He was a great signing for us. After I left, he set the standard of how a Celtic player should play, how to train, how to work and how to understand the club.
“It was his influence on a lot of people, like McGregor, Tierney and all these people who joined the club, that showed them what the standards were.
“I think that’s what they might be missing now. Callum’s great in his way, but even when they didn’t win games and didn’t play well, Broony would be telling them, ‘That’s not the standard.’”
It is a simple line, but it carries a lot of meaning.
Celtic have had plenty of talent since Brown left the club. They have won trophies, produced strong performances and brought through leaders of their own. Callum McGregor has carried the captaincy with class and remains one of the most important players at the club.
But Strachan’s point is not a criticism of McGregor. In fact, he makes clear that “Callum’s great in his way.”
The point is about a different type of presence.
Brown was demanding. He was relentless. He understood that winning alone was not always enough at Celtic. If the performance level was poor, if the tempo dropped, or if the attitude was not right, he was the type of figure who would say it inside the dressing room.
That kind of player can be difficult to replace.
Every successful Celtic side needs talent, but it also needs standards that come from within the squad. Managers and coaches can set the message, but the strongest dressing rooms are usually the ones where senior players enforce it every day.
Brown did that for years.
He helped set the tone for players like McGregor and Kieran Tierney, who came through during a period when Celtic expected to win, but also expected to train, work and carry themselves in a certain way.
That is why Strachan’s comments will resonate with supporters.
Celtic fans know the difference between simply winning a game and playing to the level expected of the club. There have been times when the team has got results without fully convincing, and moments where performances have lacked the edge supporters want to see.
Brown was never likely to let that pass quietly.
He was not perfect, but he had the personality and authority to challenge those around him. That was part of what made him such an influential Celtic captain.
Strachan’s opinion is clear. Celtic are not just missing a midfielder like Scott Brown. They may be missing the standards he demanded from everyone else.
