Elyounoussi backs Lennon: “The people who write us off? It’s too early to talk like this”

Moi Elyounoussi confirmed that the Celtic players are totally behind the under pressure Celtic manager Neil Lennon who today begins a series of must win domestic matches that will run all through December and into the New Year with success in the earlier games being required to give Celtic the chance to turn the season around at Ibrox on 2 January.

If all goes to plan Neil Lennon will have lifted the Scottish Cup against Hearts – who exited the Betfred Cup yesterday, losing away to Alloa – just before e Christmas to complete yet another Treble, the fourth in a row for Celtic and something no Celtic fan has ever seen before in the history of the club. Indeed no other club in Scottish football has won four trebles in a row.

But this season isn’t really about that, its all about Ten-in-a-Row and the gap that has emerged in recent weeks has clearly added to the pressure on Lennon with his side’s European exits hardly helping him.

Elyounoussi confirmed the heart-to-heart chat that happened in the Celtic dressing room after the 8-2 double header defeat to a Sparta Prague side that can’t buy a win domestically at the moment. They must love playing Celtic!

“Yes we’ve had a healthy dialogue between each other. We had a chat with every player and the staff and everyone said what they are thinking,” Moi Elyounoussi told the media, as reported by Scottish Sun. “It was a good chat, but everything is going to stay in here between us.

“We are still the same players that did so well last year. The preparation hasn’t changed so there is nothing different. I think sometimes it could be a lack of confidence, sometimes just in your head.

“When I look around the dressing room I just see quality. We have to bring that out on the field.”

And Elyounoussi re-stated the players’ party-line first expressed after the Prague post-match inquest by Christopher Jullien, that the manager has the full backing of the squad.

“Neil was the one who brought me here, and he is also the one who wanted me to come back for another season. I was lucky to be given more chances.

“We are playing for the manager. We are also playing for each other and for the club. It’s a challenge but you have to rise to it. We are 100 per cent behind the gaffer, and we’re not concerned about anything that is being said.”

Neil Lennon, who has won every domestic honour available to him since returning to the manager’s job in February 2019, is under severe pressure as his side has faltered in the Scottish Premiership and has already been eliminated from both the Champions League and the Europa League after a disastrous and humiliating campaign.

“We are sticking up for each other. There is no negativity going around here. Sometimes if you don’t get a result people start to criticise, but that is part of the game. Those games have gone.

“There are so many games to play so I am not concerned at all. The people who write us off? It’s too early to talk like this. We appreciate all the fans who are backing us in the good and bad times. That’s what fans do.”

The Norwegian, who is looking forward to today’s League Cup challenge against Ross County at Celtic Park, also looked back on his bitter sweet appearance in the final last year in the 1-0 victory over theRangers at Hampden. Elyounoussi rushed back from the ankle injury he suffered in the semi-final win over Hibs to play in the final but was nowhere near match fit and had to go off at the internal. On the up side was the joy of winning the cup in a match where Jeremie Frimpong was sent off at the penalty incident and is therefore suspended today!

Frimpong is suspended against Ross County today after being send off in last year’s final win over theRangers

“I had maybe one or two training sessions before that game. I wasn’t completely fit and after the final I was out for a few weeks again,” Elyounoussi recalled. “Looking back it’s easy to say I shouldn’t have played, but I was determined to play that day. Even though I was in pain I was happy we won the cup and I had a good celebration.”

On today’s game Moi is confident that Celtic will turn up. ““This could be a good opportunity to go out and get a good win and find some confidence. We want to win the trophy again.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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