NEIL LENNON spoke to the Media today ahead of tomorrow’s eagerly awaited Europa League encounter with Lazio at Celtic Park and he is hoping that the game will be remembered for the right reasons for the action on the park and not because of any disgusting behaviour from the visiting fascist Ultras who are doing so much to damage the reputation of their club and have UEFA watching and waiting to impose the harshest of punishments should their fascist /racist actions re-occur.
“I’m hoping tomorrow is a celebration of football between two great clubs,” the Celtic manager stated at today’s Media Conference, as reported by STV.
“In the main I think Lazio have a great support. There are always a minority who want to overshadow the game and make noise for the wrong reasons and put a stain on the game.
“I’m hoping that’s not going to be the case tomorrow night. I’m hoping that at the end of the game we’re talking about a great atmosphere between two great sides, playing in a great game of football.”
On to the football. Olivier Ntcham hasn’t recovered from his ankle strain and will sit this one out, as he did on Saturday against Ross County. However the Frenchman should be ready to play on Sunday up at Pittodrie.
Ntcham was unlikely to start against Lazio anyway, with Tom Rogic also likely to watch from the sidelines, although he’ll drop out of the starting eleven but will be on the bench. Neil Lennon is almost certainly going to start with the same team that defeated Cluj on match-day two which means that the team will be Forster, Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli, Brown, McGregor, Forrest Christie, Elyounoussi and Edouard.
Lenny talked about his midfield revealing that Ntcham is out, Rogic is fit but with Christie available as his suspension does not apply to this competition, the implication is that he’s like to be on the bench and the importance of the skipper Scott Brown cannot be under-estimated.
“Ntcham is still unfit and we are hoping he’ll be fit for the weekend,” the Celtic manager revealed at today’s Media Conference, as reported by Scottish Sun. “Rogic was training today and should be fine.
“Having Christie back is a big boost. He’s had a very good season so far and is in contention for tomorrow.
And on Scott Brown, the manager had this to say: “He’s our captain and his experience is vital tomorrow night. His reading of the game and athleticism is as good as ever.
“He’ll be pivotal in stopping anything Lazio can create. His leadership qualities will be vital tomorrow night.”
Lenny revels in these big European occasions under the lights with a capacity crowd at Celtic Park. It’s on occasions like this that ‘fairytales’ are made.
“We are very much looking forward to tomorrow, it’s a great game for our players to gain more vital European experience.
“It’s a key game because it’s the next one. The group is tight. Anything an happen and the group can turn quickly either way.
“We are positive about things, though, and we are hoping to get a positive result tomorrow. We have to be ready and smart as well. We want to play at our tempo and energy to get the crowd behind us.
“We’ve analysed it and we’re ready. We’re looking forward to it,” Lenny said. He knows however that Lazio are a very decent side and it will take a special Celtic performance and perhaps a rub of the green if we are to prevail.
“They’re a great side with quality players. They have the leading scorer in the Serie A in Immobile. I expect the game to be open the way both teams are playing.
“It has all the ingredients of a very exciting game ahead.
“We’d love to win the game tomorrow night, it would put us in a very strong position. We’d love to qualify from the group and the players are capable of doing that.”
This team can do it…
Here’s Neil Lennon’s Media Conference ahead of the Europa League match against Lazio…
