Neil Lennon Latest – ‘Disappointed’ at SPFL charges, Ajeti won’t start, Griffiths remains sidelined, surgery update on Mikey Johnston

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon has been holding his Media Conference ahead of tomorrow evening’s one-leg Champions League first round qualifier against KR Reykjavik.

“The game is all about us. We’re at home and it’s one leg. The preparation has been good even though we missed a couple of games which would’ve helped,” Lenny said.

“We’re very much looking forward to playing,” he added before, in reference to the two postponed matches against St Mirren and Aberdeen due to the unbelievably stupid and completely selfish actions of Boli Bolingoli, admitting that the incident had been disruptive. ”

“It’s been a little bit disruptive but you’ve got to make the best of it and we’ve had a good week’s training. We all know what our responsibilities are going forward.”

It’s very much the case of winner takes all tomorrow night and indeed over the next two qualifiers before the play-off round which reverts to a two-legged affair – hopefully we’ll get there this time around after the frustrations of AEK Athens and Cluj over the past few seasons. Tomorrow’s opposition should not trouble Celtic too much but Lennon remains wary of the one-leg new normality for the game.

“It’s the new norm and it’s been exciting but if you’re on the other end of a defeat it’s pretty hard to consume. Personally I prefer 2-legged affairs but we know what we have to do and we know what lies ahead if we negotiate Reykjavik.”

Reaching the Champions League Group Stages on a third time lucky basis – and Celtic will be in the third pot this time around providing Moussa Dembele doesn’t end up winning the Big Cup for Lyon – is a major target for Celtic this season.

“It’s one of the priorities of the season and the players will be focussed. It’s important for the club. We’ve had a long time back training and two competitive games so this game is really important for a lot of reasons,” Lenny added.

New Bhoy Albian Ajeti is in the squad for tomorrow but will have to content himself with a place on the bench, as the manager confirmed that the £5m signing from West Ham will NOT start against Reykjavik. “He’ll be in the squad tomorrow but he’s not ready to start as he’s got a little more work to do. He’ll be a good signing for us. He’s a natural goalscorer and that was a position we were looking to strengthen,” Lenny said.

Missing tomorrow will be Leigh Griffiths and Mikey Johnston with the gaffer giving an injury update on both.

“Griffiths is still out and Mikey Johnston has had surgery so we’re looking at a time frame for him of maybe 3-5 weeks,” Neil Lennon revealed.

Meanwhile Lennon has also spoken about the news that Celtic are set to be punished by the football authorities for the actions of Bolingoli and says that he is “disappointed for the club” after Celtic were charged by the SPFL following the Bolingoli breach quarantine rules.

“I think we’ve been at the forefront of getting the game up and running. It’s down to the actions of one individual,Lenny said. You can here what he’s had to say about the charges and the Bolingoli situation below.

“Disappointed for the club. I think we have been at the forefront of getting the game up and running. All the procedures, all the protocols, and it is down to the actions of one individual really.

“But we will hold our hands up, if we are accountable, we will have to accept that, take it and move on.

“What we don’t want is the game to shut down again or any sort of mishaps, if you want to call it that. Two clubs, Aberdeen and ourselves, are embroiled in this.

“I think it is unfortunate from my point of view as a manager, the majority of the players here and the staff and people at the club have worked really hard, tirelessly, so we will try to set the highest standards we can,” the Celtic manager concluded.

Here is the Media Conference in full…

More from the Celtic manager and also from Ryan Christie and Greg Taylor shortly.

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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