Harrison 'really proud' of Saints' latest title win
· Yahoo Sports
The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says he is "really proud" of his team after winning the Cymru Premier title for the fifth consecutive season.
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Harrison's side defeated Connah's Quay Nomads 2-1 on Tuesday thanks to an injury time winner from Danny Davies.
Saints have now won a record 18 Cymru Premier titles, making them the most successful side in the history of the competition. Harrison also has a tremendous personal record, with the latest title his 11th with the club over two spells.
"My time at TNS has been amazing. I won six titles in my first spell and last night was my fifth of the second. I never thought that would happen when I first moved here. So I'm really proud, really happy, really glad," Harrison said.
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"The last 18 months have been tough, we got knocked out of Europe, losing senior players, almost a rebuild with six or seven players, all under the age of 25," added the 48-year-old former Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace player.
"So to win the league by 3 March was great. It's nice to get it done as soon as possible, and in the manner we won it last night, it was very dramatic."
By their own high standards, this season has been underwhelming for Harrison's side who are more used to winning doubles and trebles than a solitary league title.
With their dominance of domestic Welsh football in recent years there may be a risk of complacency but midfielder Leo Smith, who joined TNS in 2020, said the players were as hungry as ever.
"No footballer gets tired of winning. I know that I want to stay here and keep winning games so I can look back at my career and remember how much I won," said Smith.
"I don't know anyone in football who could turn around and say they don't want to win trophies, regardless of how many you've won."
TNS were knocked out of the Welsh Cup in the third round by Cardiff Met, and last Saturday they were defeated 2-0 in the Nathaniel MG Cup final by Barry Town.
Harrison said his side were disappointed that they could not add any cup trophies to their cabinet this season.
"Whenever we enter in a competition, the expectation is that we win it. But unless you've done it, people wouldn't understand what it takes to go and win a treble." Harrison said.
"It's not always possible. Sometimes you need a bit of a reality check. "
The New Saints midfielder Leo Smith has won five Cymru Premier titles since joining in 2020 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Dominance in domestic football is not the only aim for TNS. They hope to build on last season's European success, when they became the first club from the Welsh league system to win in the league or group stage of a major European competition.
Their attention now shifts to preparation for the qualifiers next season, where the north Wales side will hope to reach a major Uefa competition once again.
"I think Champions League is impossible. It's the way it's set up now, that's why the Conference League competition come in," explained Harrison.
"The ambition is always to try and go further. Ideally, we could get Europa league, but realistically we need to try and aim to get to the same position as we got to last year and then maybe qualify for the next round."
Smith shares the same feelings as his boss, as he plans to play a part in TNS' European campaign.
"We've got a taste for it now," said Smith
"We've won the league, but that's not going to stop us from trying to win every game for the rest of the season.
"Hopefully the boys can have a break and we can come back in the summer ready to push on to make sure that we do get European football again."