Source: Team_Talk
Strachan: Hoops tried their hardest
The Ibrox side went in to the final day two points clear of the Hoops and their 3-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice ultimately rendered Celtic's game against Hearts meaningless.
However, the Parkhead men could not give their fans a final victory as they huffed and puffed unconvincingly all afternoon on Sunday.
Strachan, who was going for four championships in a row, brokered no questions afterwards as he pronounced: "Today, it wasn't good enough; the game was dead after the (Rangers) result filtered through.
"But at this moment in time, we'd like to thank the players and staff; they gave it their best shot.
"I'd like to thank supporters; it wasn't easy for them today.
"We weren't up for the challenge of winning four in a row.
"It is disappointing but we have only ourselves to blame.
"We will analyse it later on but it doesn't take a genius to see that in some areas, we weren't as good as we have been in the last three years.
"Then we go on to the next part and we say well done to Rangers.
"We say well done to Walter (Smith), Ally (McCoist), Kenny (McDowall), and Jim (Stewart) and their players because know how difficult it is; it's not easy to win championships. There is a lot that goes on.
"We congratulate them and I'm sure we will give them a run for their money next year.
"We congratulate them because we think we can win with dignity and hopefully lose with dignity.
"That's basically it for today; there is plenty time to think about it for the next few days."
Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo, in his own inimitable way, played down speculation he is set to leave the club.
However, the former Ferencvaros boss admitted he is looking for more investment from Jambos' owner Vladimir Romanov.
He said: "I have two years left on my contract and my children are going to school here so I would like to stay.
"My priority is Hearts but I need help to build a new team.
"I have experienced players leaving and you can't play with children.
"We need the club to take a chance next season.
"We have done a good job this season but we don't want to go down from third place.
"If we finish up sixth, seventh or eighth next year then this season has been for nothing.
"The same thing happened to me at Ferencvaros.
"They sold all the players and they ended up in the second division.
"So we have to use that experience and try and keep the team together."
