06.05.2014 02:19 h

Football: Champions Celtic will get better - Ambrose

Duell in der Höhe
Duell in der Höhe

This season might not yet be over but Celtic defender Efe Ambrose already has his sights set on claiming a domestic treble in their next campaign.

The champions travel to McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night for their penultimate game of the season holding a 30 point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Neil Lennon's side demolished their nearest challengers Aberdeen on Saturday as they eased to a 5-2 victory at Celtic Park.

And Nigerian defender Ambrose has sent out an ominous warning to the rest of Scottish football, claiming that the Hoops will attempt to strengthen their stranglehold on the domestic game next year by winning a first treble for their manager.

"Last season we won the double, and this year we've got just one," the centre-half said. "So I think the treble is what is left for us to achieve, and that's the motivation for next season.

"The treble, and to do better in the Champions League than what we did last year and this season. And I think we have the calibre of player to do that, so this is our target.

"If we get it right I don't think anyone can stop us. If we get things right I don't think anyone can get close to Celtic.

"Last year it was Motherwell, this year it is Aberdeen. We never know how it's going to be, but I think the league is getting better and teams are trying to compete with Celtic.

"So the more they try to compete, the more we will try to step up. The more they give us a challenge, the more we will become a better team, better players as well, because we know there will be a challenge in the league.

"The more you want to achieve and to keep winning you have to do the right things and you have to have the winning mentality. You have to have the right players and the manager and everyone needs to be together."

Elsewhere, Inverness Caledonian Thistle's hopes of finishing fourth could be ended if they don't win away to Motherwell, Kilmarnock will attempt to move away from the relegation play-off spot when they take on St Mirren at Rugby Park and relegated Hearts will try and continue their fine run of form when they host Partick Thistle at Tynecastle.