In the build up to today’s crucial match at Ibrox, former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been a guest on talkSPORT, discussing Celtic’s miraculous turn around this season and the fantastic job Ange Postecoglou has done in somehow gelling his new squad together in such a short space of time, while at the same time keeping his side in the hunt for all three domestic trophies.
Lennon, who is now manager at Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia, led Celtic last season as they tried to claim an unprecedented ten League titles in a row. The season turned into a disaster however, starting with Boli Bolingoli’s secret trip to Spain breaking covid restrictions, which then brought on a seemingly endless run of disappointments that ended with us finishing the season over 20 points behind theRangers in the title race and failing to win either cup competition, as St Johnstone claimed both.
The disastrous season cost the 50 year old his job, with many including myself feeling the Lurgan man remained in the hot seat too long. It was clear from about November that he had lost the dressing room but Lennon persisted, hoping he could somehow turn the season around. There can be no doubting that Neil Lennon loves the club but unfortunately last season will always slightly taint his achievements as Celtic manager. Hopefully over time we will all remember and appreciate the amazing times he brought to the club. Time is a great healer after all.
Anyway, back to today and Lennon acknowledges the huge ramifications this afternoon’s meeting at Ibrox will have on the destiny of the league title this season.
Speaking to talkSPORT about Celtic’s unimaginable rise from last season’s mediocrity he said:
“I’m not surprised. We had a lot of problems last year and it wasn’t a natural season. I make comparisons to Liverpool’s season, when they had a lot of problems and just about made fourth place.
“I always thought Celtic would improved but he’s done a marvellous job. He’s really had to do a lot of surgery on the squad, which was required, but it seems to have been seamless. The way that they handled the last Old Firm (sic) was fantastic. I don’t think anyone seen that performance coming.
“For Gio, he probably got the approach wrong and I think both teams will be firmly set on a huge encounter. The importance of this game will have ramifications as the season goes on.”
As we approach the lunchtime kick off the excitement is gathering and for the first time in well over a year, I feel absolutely no trepidation as we head across the city to Ibrox. Last time out at Celtic Park, especially during the first half against theRangers, we showed we are unstoppable if we are at our best.
On top of that I felt that they were extremely lucky to win the first meeting of the season between the sides at Ibrox, where they won 1-0 due to a Filip Helander header from a corner. We had plenty of chances to score that day but unfortunately forgot to bring our shooting boots. That was with a team who had only been playing together a couple of months. We have grown together massively since then into a unit where each individual know exactly the role Ange Postecoglou expects them to play.
With our full squad now fit and ready to play their part we should be aiming for nothing less than the full 3 points from this encounter. A win today would put a huge 6 point gap between the sides while at the same time destroying the home sides confidence.
Lets do this Celtic.
Conall McGinty
