Johan Mjallby is the latest former Celtic Star to speak to the new podcast which is hosted by Mark Wilson and features other former Celts Frank McAvennie, Simon Donnelly and Murdo MacLeod.
Last week ahead of the Europa League match at Celtic Park against Sparta Prague, their special guest was our ‘Gift from God’ Lubo Moravvcik and this week it’s former Celtic defender and assistant manager Johan Mjallby who was interviewed, this time about the pressure that’s been on Neil Lennon since that horrendous 4-1 humiliation.
There is one outstanding question though that isn’t addressed. Why did Mjallby not return to Celtic alongside Neil Lennon and why was the manager not allowed to bring in his own men when he was given the job on a full-time basis after seeing out the 2018-19 season following the departure of former manager Brendan Rodgers.
Mjallby for whatever reason was overlooked by Celtic when making various coaching appointments including Damien Duff and even more remarkably Gavin Strachan. it is unclear if either of these appointments were Neil Lennon initiatives or he was merely given new staff members to work with, the decision having been taken further up the food chain at Celtic Park.
Here’s what the Swedish former Celt had to say to The Celtic Huddle podcast about the current situation that Neil Lennon finds himself in this season. “I was impressed by him when I worked with him. He’s been through a lot in his playing and management career at Celtic.
“Of course I have sympathy with him because he is under enormous pressure and has such a heavy workload. But on the other hand, there is no other place Neil Lennon would love to be.
“He breathes Celtic. He breathes football. So I think he loves this challenge. I really do. It’s a chance to make history.
“I think he works more tactically now than he used to. He knows that today’s generation really need to be pinpointed what to do. They don’t want any responsibility. That’s not a criticism, that’s just the way it is.
“They need to be told exactly what to do. I think it is something that is a bit new to Neil but he learns and takes it on. He’s certainly not a dinosaur.
“The years I spent with him, he was spot on tactically. He had a lot of great ideas that he didn’t always use, but was great during games to pinpoint whether things needed to change defensively or attacking wise.”
Maybe someone like big Mjallby – who would clearly have Lenny’s back – would be an ideal addition to the coaching staff. He certainly knows how the Celtic manager operates and maybe he could even do something about defending set-pieces!
Listen to The Celtic Huddle Podcast below…
