Nakamura says Celtic have no room for error

Shunsuke Nakamura has warned his team-mates at Celtic thay the reigning champions cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to retain their Scottish Premier League title.

The Hoops moved three points clear of arch-rivals Rangers with a win at Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening while Rangers suffered a shock home defeat to Inverness.

But Nakamura is anticipating a fight right to the wire.

“We need to do a lot to win the league,” the Japan midfielder told Celtic View. “The players know that and the manager knows that. There are so many things you need to do to win the league.

“Experience tells us that this stage of the season always has a massive say in what happens come the end of the year when the prizes are being given out.

“Last season, Rangers were ahead and we had to catch up. We got there slowly and, in the end, we were champions. That only happened because we started winning our games.

“It’s the same this season. Now is the time when we can’t afford to make mistakes,” he stressed.

Nakamura, who scored a hat-trick in Celtic’s 7-0 thrashing of St Mirren last weekend, has been tipped to leave Celtic Park at the end of the season and return home to Japan.

But he insisted his focus was firmly fixed on making it four championships in a row for Celtic.

“I want to win the title this year, just like I wanted to win it for the previous three seasons. That feeling never leaves you when you play football.”

Despite his treble last Saturday, Nakamura said Celtic should not get too hung up on issues of goal difference.

“Goals will be important but it’s about getting a balance as well. The most important thing is getting three points in games. Not just goals.

“If we get the points, then that’s the most important thing. We can’t go into games thinking we need to score lots of goals.

“If we do that, then it puts added pressure on us. We just have to concentrate on winning games.”

Before their thrashing of St Mirren, the Bhoys had been criticised for a lack of goals in recent weeks and even in a 7-0 win not one striker managed to hit the back of the net.

However, Nakamura said: “I’m not worried about the goal side of things.

“I think we are playing well and making chances. We just need to add the final touch.

“I know we were being criticised for not scoring enough goals but it’s not just about the strikers.

“We all have to play our part. We all have to help out – the defenders, the midfielders and the strikers.”