SCOTT Brown has praised the dedication and discipline which gave Celtic’s invincible treble winners the appetite to gorge themselves on trophies this season.

The Parkhead side were into their last reserves of energy when Tom Rogic’s injury time winner in the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen saw them complete a domestic clean sweep and go 47 domestic matches unbeaten but they still had more left in the tank than everybody else and Brown puts the success down to the hunger and personal sacrifice of a group who were challenged to drop to 10 or 12 per cent body fat when Brendan Rodgers took over in the summer.

While no-one embodies this drive more than their 31-year-old captain, he puts the Indian summer in his own career down to the fact his team-mates all bought into these methods too.

“I am proud, but it’s down to the lads who are at the club that I am still playing,” said Brown. “They have worked so hard throughout the season and dedicated themselves throughout. Whether that was [giving up] nights out, or going into training because there were not that many days off. You don’t see your family as much, but the dedication has paid off.

“In the first six months, we had to get as fit as possible,” he added. “We came back not the fittest and the gaffer was on about everyone’s body fat. We managed to get that down 10 or 12 per cent in the whole squad. That shows the dedication and effort that was put into it.

“We believe that, no matter how fit anyone else is, our fitness is better,” he added. “We showed that all through the season and we’ve dug ourselves out of a few holes.

“The gaffer stuck to his ways and he’s wanted us to play good, attacking and attractive football. We managed to do it through the season and got ourselves a lot fitter than we have ever been. We thrive on the big occasions.”

Brown might have angered some Aberdeen fans on the day by rather uncharitably holding three fingers aloft in front of them at the final whistle, but the Pittodrie side won new respect with the manner of their performance at Hampden. Brown said that getting over the line in the final was the hardest match of the season.

“Fair play to Aberdeen,” said Brown. “They gave it everything, but we came straight back after a losing a goal. There are always hard games throughout a season and moments when things can go against you.

“We managed to beat Aberdeen six times in the one season and the cup final at the end was the hardest one of the lot,” he added, “but that’s because they are a great team with great pace. They pushed us all the way in the league and also in both of the cup competitions. You have to play in cup finals to be the best and they did it twice.”

Preparations are already under way at Parkhead for the ordeal of next season’s Champions League qualifiers in mid July but for now Brown is happy just to savour this team’s place in history, not least as the cup final medals were handed out by John Clark, the club’s kit man and Lisbon Lion.

“John Clark giving out the medals at the end at Hampden was great for him and for us,” said Brown. “He’s still doing his kit and he loves the club. For us to do something and, hopefully, be remembered in 50 years time like Clarky and his team were over the course of the week is a phenomenal feeling.”