Ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon believes the current team has the potential to progress further than the Champions League last 16 next season…
This follows the Hoops’ impressive achievement of securing a spot in the knockout stage play-offs this campaign. Brendan Rodgers’ side ended the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition in 21st place out of 36 teams, setting up a clash with German powerhouse Bayern Munich to fight for a spot in the last 16.
Celtic came agonisingly close to forcing extra time against Vincent Kompany’s men over two hard-fought legs, but ultimately bowed out of the competition in heartbreaking fashion.
Lennon, who led Celtic to the last 16 back in the 2012/13 campaign, feels the team is capable of going even further – provided Rodgers is backed with the right resources in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Speaking to Scottish Football Social Club, Lennon said:
“I think they’ll back him. That’s why Brendan came back in the first place, and they spent big in the summer. The last 16 has been the glass ceiling since my time, since Gordon Strachan.
“I think it can be broken, and they’ve got the financial power to do that. They’ve also got the manager to do that.”
While Celtic remain fully concentrated on securing a sixth domestic treble in nine years before the season wraps up, Lennon is confident that preparations for summer transfers – both arrivals and exits – are already underway behind closed doors.
Indeed, the 53-year-old anticipates that his former club is likely to see at least one key player depart in the upcoming transfer window. He said:
“There will be discussions going on from now until the transfers are made. Maybe one player leaves. Two good ones left this season in Kyogo and Matt O’Riley, but they were still very, very good in Europe and great domestically.
“What Brendan will want is to improve that incrementally. Yeah, it’s going to cost money, but the money is there to be spent.”
Conor Spence
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