DID you see the Cluj tweet after today’s Europa League draw? It’s definitely one for Neil Lennon to pin on the Celtic dressing room door. The Romanian Champion’s official Twitter feed messaged the Europa League account saying “Hi Europa League, “Hi Europa League? Did we not ask you to give us a challenge. I mean Celtic again.”
Neil Lennon, we’re sure, will make sure that Celtic provide Cluj with a satisfactory challenge in the Europa League. These games could be very interesting to say the least! Here’s what the Celtic manager had to say at his Media Conference earlier today.
“It’s a great draw. There’s a couple of glamour games there and a chance to maybe exact some sort of retribution on Cluj as well, so we’re delighted to be in there and delighted with the group. There are a lot of big games to look forward to, which is exactly what we want,” Neil Lennon told the media as reported on the official Celtic site.
“You always think in the back of your mind that it might be a possibility with the teams being in different pots. It’s come out that way, but I wouldn’t make too big an issue of it. By that stage, hopefully we’ll be at full steam ahead, and we’re playing very well at the minute.
“On the basis of last night, we had a great performance and we just want to maintain that form as we go along.”
Celtic and Rennes, or Stade Rennais if you prefer their French name, came face to face in the early pre-season match at Celtic Park that finished goalless. On a competitive level, the Celtic manager got a 1-1 draw in Brittany in the Europa League in 2011 while the Hoops won the home match 3-1, you can watch the goals below.
“They are a good side, they won the cup last year which is no mean feat in beating PSG in the final. They’ve got some very talented, quick players. We’ve met them before in the Europa League and have had a couple of positive results against them, so we’re looking for more of the same really,” Lenny said.
“And, of course, Lazio is a great draw, it’s very glamorous and it’s a trip to Rome as well, I think that’s something everyone here will look forward to.
“I feel we’ve got the making of a good side. I’m not going to make predictions, but I think that we can make a good impact on the group.
“After playing Cluj recently, that would be the first thing that would probably come into the players’ heads, and with Lazio and Rennes, we’ll think we can have a real go at both of those teams.”
The Celtic manager takes a great deal of confidence from the manner in which his side won home and away against the Swedish Champions AIK. The 2-0 win at Celtic Park was impressive and was actually bettered last night with a 4-1 victory in the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
“It was an outstanding performance from start to finish. We scored four away from home in Europe, we haven’t done that for a long, long time and the quality of the goals was excellent.
“The quality of the performance was excellent and it was a pressure game obviously, but the players handled it brilliantly. We beat a very good side comprehensively over two legs, so there is a lot to be positive about.
“The front four last night were brilliant, they looked a real threat, and then Scott Brown and Callum McGregor backed that up to give us a real platform. Browny was outstanding last night and is really back to his best again, and Callum has just been so consistent over the piece.
“But the front four really excited us. Odsonne Edouard is in great form, Ryan Christie has been outstanding and James Forrest is great to watch when he’s playing like that. His goal was sublime and his all-round game last night was really high quality.
“So we’re delighted with that and we’ve got good decent back-up with Bayo coming on and Lewis Morgan scored and there’s a few others bubbling under as well, so it augurs well.
“I’ve been excited throughout the majority of the season. There’s been a bit of negativity about the place, you can understand that to a certain degree but, when you’re scoring goals at a very fast rate, then we’re very positive and there’s a lot to be happy about.”
Also on The Celtic Star…
Europa League Match Details Announced – ‘The Cluj games are the ones I’m looking forward to the most,’ Niall J…see HERE.
The Wanyama Window? ‘Better late than never Mr Lawwell, It is time to back your man,’ Niall J…see HERE.
Celtic drawn against Lazio, Rennes and a revenge mission with Cluj in Europa League…see HERE.
Poker Update – Pistol missed the match, ‘No Chance’ of Odsonne sale, Taylor in Time for Sunday?…see HERE.
Trouble in Stockholm – ‘Clear many Hammarby fans were in the Celtic sections,’ Celtic spokesperson…see HERE.
Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at IKEA HQ, The Flipside of the Cluj Coin…see HERE.
Europa League Completed Pots – teams we’d like Celtic to play and sides we’d like to avoid…see HERE.
Lennon deserves praise for the way Celtic dealt with AIK Stockholm reckons David Potter…see HERE.
AIK 1 Celtic 4 – Crowd Trouble on the Day We Win Away…see HERE.