NEIL LENNON has been contemplating the Behind Closed Doors football that we’re set to experience in Scottish football from the start of August. Full crowds were allowed back to the rugby in New Zealand this weekend, giving a hint of a hope that at least a percentage of the support could be back supporting the team at Paradise earlier than expected.
The Celtic manager has been glued to his own television watching the Bundesliga over the past few weeks and from that he’s appreciating both the quality of the football on display and the fact that the players have all been getting on with it even though there have been no supporters at the games.
“I watched Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund which is the biggest game in Germany. I’ve watched a lot of the Bundesliga games in fact,” the Celtic manager said, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“The quality of football was brilliant but obviously it was surreal watching it without supporters. It didn’t seem to affect the players in terms of what they brought. It’s not what we want, it’s not how we see football. So hopefully it’s a short-term thing,” Neil Lennon said.
“The Bundesliga have led the way through this difficult time and they seem to be coping pretty well with it. We have to look at that and say it’s doable, it’s feasible.
“But for the sake of the game — and I’m sure it’s the same in Germany and all the other countries — we want the public back when it’s safe. We’re all hoping this will be a short-term thing. It’s difficult times for clubs in Scotland. We’re not immune to it but we always do our best.
“We need our fans and the virtual season ticket will give them an opportunity to see the games, even if they can’t be there, which I think is brilliant,” the Celtic manager said.
“It’s not ideal but we’re not in an ideal environment. It’s not an ideal time for football. Health and safety has to come first. But as important as that is I think it’s also really important to get football back.
“We know what football means to so many in this country. We have a fantastic product here for the size of the country and it’s important we protect it and get it up and running as best we can.
“Hopefully in the not too distant future we’ll have supporters and players back in unison again in the same stadiums with the same atmosphere. But maybe as a short-term fix behind-closed-doors is something myself and the players will have to adapt to.”
