Source: Team_Talk
Hartley heaps praise on Strachan
The Scotland midfielder, signed from Hearts in January 2007, is far from being a bit-part player at Parkhead but he has not always found himself in the Hoops' starting XI this season.
However, as is normally the case when the SPL champions face their stiffest of tests, Strachan will call on the wily 32-year-old for the crunch game against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday which will have a huge bearing on the destination of this season's title.
The Parkhead men lead Rangers by one point with four games remaining and Hartley insists it is that ability to utilise and prepare his squad for games such as these that elevates Strachan above most of his peers.
He said: "He's not just a manager, he's a coach, too.
"He doesn't just sit in his office, he's out there (on the training ground) every single day and takes all the sessions.
"He's a very good man-manager and a very good motivator. I think he's got it all.
"You just need to look at his record over the past few years to see what kind of job he has done.
"If he does lead us to four titles in a row, then he will have done a fantastic job."
Hartley continued: "I think I've become a better player since I've worked under the manager.
"He has always used me for the bigger games, I think he tends to trust me in games like this.
"Sometimes it is not always about pretty football, but about winning, and I've seen and done it before. I came into the team last week (at Aberdeen) and felt good.
"I knew when I came to the club that we were not all going to play every week. Some players don't accept that but I understand where the manager is coming from."
