Neil Lennon

Lenny interview on Sportsound now...

Interviewer with endless questions trying to get him to indicate that Celtic are in financial trouble or having to sell players.

Then pundits have a 15 minute discussion about our Financial liability right now and who we could sell without any mention of one particular club that genuinely IS in financial peril.

 

They did mention they have no assets to sell

 

Had colins on saying we were good had a warchest and investors lol could post other parts of it

 

I think he was the only voice pointing that out... it’s just staggering how the best run and wealthiest club is discussed as ‘in peril’ while the ‘statue defence institute’ is expected to spend big.

 

NO-ONE needs to tell Neil Lennon just how important the coming season is for Celtic. Having delivered nine-in-a-row, he is thrilled to be the man leading the team in their quest for a history-making 10 league titles in a row.

And while he knows the excitement and anticipation is palpable, part of his job will be to keep players’ focus on the next game on the horizon, whoever the opponent might be. Nevertheless, it’s a campaign that the Irishman is eagerly looking forward to.

“A lot of people say that players shouldn’t need motivation and that is, to a certain extent, true,” he said. “Players have their own self-motivation, but from a club point of view, from the supporters point of view and certainly from the group of players, they’re going for something that’s never been done before and I think that’s a huge incentive for them in terms of winning the league.

“We have to focus them and try not to get too ahead of ourselves, and obviously take each game as it comes, but it’s a huge motivation for the players this year, and any new ones coming in – it will be embedded into them very, very quickly what’s required.”

The Scottish Premiership season is scheduled to start on the first weekend in August, while Champions League qualifiers will follow soon after.

Earlier in the week, UEFA announced a new format for the qualifiers, with the first three rounds of the Champions League being a single leg match, with the draw determining who plays at home in each match. Only the play-off round will remain as a two-leg contest.

Having guided his side to the last 32 of the Europa League last season, Neil Lennon is determined to take the step up to the Champions League group stages by successfully navigating through the qualifiers.

“Again, it’s all new,” he said. “The dates will be better for us because they’re a little bit further down the line than what we’re used to. The players will have had six or seven weeks training, and then we’ll be hopefully into the domestic season before we play the Champions League. And then it’s the luck of the draw.

“But we’ve just got to adapt and focus, and we know what we want to do. We know qualification is really important for us.”

 

How many honours has Lenny won as player and manager combined?

 

Player: 11 (Celtic x9, Leicester x2)
Manager: 10 (Celtic x9, Hibs x1)

Total honours: 21
Total Celtic honours: 18

 

Happy Birthday Lenny.

 

That puts him 1 behind broony doesn’t it for us? Madness some of the numbers of trophies players in our squad have at the moment. Bitton is one of our most decorated players too thanks to him being here during the 9!

 

Not looking good for the big mans return, anyone else is a downgrade

 

NEIL Lennon said that the excitement levels are at an all-time high for the start of the new league campaign as the Hoops boss gave his reaction to the fixture schedule for the 2020/21 season.

The SPFL fixtures for the new season were revealed this morning (Monday) and Celtic will begin the defence of their Premiership trophy and the bid for a 10th consecutive title with a home game against Hamilton Accies on Sunday, August 2.

The much anticipated return of football, coupled with Celtic’s quest for an unprecedented 10th successive league title has the champions eagerly anticipating the kick-off of the new season. The Hoops were last in action in early March when they defeated St Mirren 5-0 at Paradise.

“There’s a huge amount of excitement,” said Neil Lennon at Lennoxtown today (Monday).” We’re very excited. It’s been good to have the players back for the last few weeks, and preparations are going well. We’re going through all the protocols and everything that’s been ask of us as a club, so we’re excited. This is a big season for us domestically and, obviously, on the European front as well.”

The changes to the footballing calendar throughout Europe means Celtic will begin their UEFA Champions League qualification campaign later than usual in the summer. The first three qualifying rounds will be one-off ties, either home or away depending on the draw, with the play-off round reverting to traditional home and away legs.

Neil Lennon explained that Celtic have been preparing for the change in routine, and the Hoops boss said he will have a clearer indication of where his side stand when they begin playing games later this month.

“There’s a new norm and it’s something we’ve been preparing for over the last few weeks,” said the Celtic manager. “You never really know where you are until the games start but I think, in terms of the pre-season games next week, we’ll have a fair idea of what we need to do to improve the team for the start of the season.

“We’re going to France next week where we have some big pre-season games lined up. That’ll give us an indication of where we are as a squad.”

 

CELTIC displayed a consistent ability to thrive under pressure during their nine-in-a-row run, and Neil Lennon said his side will not be distracted by the pressure as they prepare to embark on their quest for a 10th consecutive title.

The Hoops will attempt to create Scottish football history by becoming the first team to win 10 in a row, and that quest begins on Sunday, August 2 when they take on Hamilton Accies at Paradise.

Speaking after the 2020/21 fixtures were announced, Neil Lennon said: "We’ve got to take it as the next title. For some players, it’ll be their first title pursuit and for others it’ll be their tenth. We have to keep a balance and remind them it’s the next one.

“There’s going to be a lot of hype surrounding it from the outside. We’ve got to find our levels and our consistency as quickly as we possibly can. It is monumental what we’re going for but we can’t let that distract us from actually playing the games.

“When teams come to play us they subconsciously raise their game and try to become far more difficult to beat,” the Hoops boss added. “We’re looking to improve as individuals and as a group, that’s the incentive for us and there’s huge motivation for the players going into this season on the domestic front. We have Champions League qualifiers to look forward to in August and that’ll be a big push for us from our point of view to try and qualify for that.

“It’s difficult sometimes without the supporters, there’s no question about that. That’s something we’ll have to adapt to very quickly but, in terms of training and getting ready for the games, nothing’s changed really.

“Hopefully by September or October we’ll get permission to get fans in through the doors, which would be fantastic. While it’s great to see football back, it’s just not the same without the supporters.”

 

Neil Lennon believes the opening Old Firm showdown of the season can be boosted by fans inside Celtic Park.

The Parkhead gaffer was pleased to see the first derby of the campaign against Rangers slotted into a date of Saturday, October 17.


Lennon had stated last month that he was hopeful the Old Firm fixtures could be pushed back to give as much time as possible for punters to get into see the games and also showcase the occasion on the TV.

SPFL chiefs announced the first contest between Lennon’s team and Steven Gerrard ’s side will be within the 11th round of fixtures in the middle of October with the second game at Ibrox pencilled into a date of January 2, 2021


Asked if he was encouraged by the scheduling of the opening clash in terms of potential fan attendance, Lennon said: “Yeah, very much so.

Hopefully, by September, October time, we may get permission to get punters in through the doors and that would be fantastic because, while it is great to see football back, it’s just not the same without the supporters.”



Lennon, meanwhile, has also given an update on his chase for a goalkeeper.


Fraser Forster’s non-commitment at this stage on a move back to Parkhead despite an agreement being reached between Celtic and Southampton for a loan-to-buy transfer has forced the manager and his recruitment staff to consider alternative targets.

Lennon told Sky Sports : “We are looking at other options. There is a deal agreed between both of the clubs and it’s gone quiet from the player’s side of things.

“Like everything else, we would dearly love him [Forster] back here, but if that is not going to be the case, we will look elsewhere.

We are looking at a number of options on the goalkeeping front, but it’s such an important position.

“Fraser did wonderful things for us last season and there are big gloves to fill, if you want to put it that way. So, ideally, we’ll try to get an exceptional No.1 in again.”