Neil Lennon gave us perhaps a little more of an actual insight at yesterday’s Mainstream Media Conference. Why the Celtic Fans Media is excluded remains a mystery. The Celtic manager was talking among other things – you can watch his full media conference below – about the return to form of Odsonne Edouard and outlined the reasons why he wasn’t at his best in the first half of the season.
Having been let down by the unfit Leigh Griffiths, Lennon also had his talisman operating well below par as the season started to go horribly wrong. Then he caught Covid while away with the French Under 21s and missed theRangers game at Celtic Park – one that could have been much different had Celtic been at full strength. And Odsonne was also deeply disappointed that he didn’t get his move in the summer, with money short in the game no club matched Celtic’s asking price.
💚🍋 #TOTW https://t.co/iTncPlTeAK pic.twitter.com/XtWukm81m9
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 16, 2021
Here’s what the Celtic manager had to say about his back to his best goalscorer. “He is never any problem, I have a good relationship with him. He is a very quiet lad, very laid back. He had issues going on in the first half of the season, but he seems to have really found his mojo. He makes us a better team, no question of that.
“I am delighted with his goals, obviously. But more importantly, particularly in the second half on Sunday, his all-round game was outstanding.
“He is difficult to really get to know because he is so quiet. With the way things are going through this Covid period, you are a little bit more disconnected from the players at times but you speak to him one on one and he has found it difficult this season, like many of them away from the football club.
“You can’t keep a good player down for long. He has really found good form at the minute and I am really enjoying working with him and watching him play.
“He had issues from the first half of the season. He felt he missed out on a potential move, so he has galvanised himself and is making a good contribution at the minute,” Lennon revealed.
“We just kept working with him. We kept working on the training ground and cajoling him and supporting him really. He has done so much for me since I came back in the second spell and it’s important that I support him as well. We are getting a good response out of him now and I am very pleased with him now,” the Celtic manager added.
“We took a decision as a club to keep the players and the way the situation was we didn’t entertain any bids for players. A lot of clubs didn’t have the money to match our price tag,” Lennon said.
The extended transfer window didn’t help matters. The other aspect this season of managing things is that you have to look after the health and wellbeing of players.
“They’re human beings and they make a lot of sacrifices to come and play here. It just hasn’t been anything they’ve been used to before in previous seasons, so a lot of them have found it difficult.”
Watch Neil Lennon’s Media Conference ahead of this evening’s match against Aberdeen at Celtic Park, watch via your Pass to Paradise or Celtic TV if you are overseas. Remember the game kicks off at 6pm.
🎙️ Neil Lennon previews tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership encounter with Aberdeen.#CELABE Media Conference available on YouTube now 🟢
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 16, 2021
