Neil Lennon praised Steven Gerrard for eventually winning a trophy at theRangers on the morning after Scotland exited the Euros having just taken one point from a possible nine in a group that saw England, Croatia and Czech Republic all progress. The former Celtic manager was speaking on talkSport and was quizzed on his Glasgow Derby rival from the last few seasons and also on the current situation at his old club, where his successor Ange Postecoglou arrived today.
After two barren seasons the former England and Liverpool skipper eventually won a trophy – the first ever in the history of the club founded in 2012 by Charles Green after the previous club went out of business, owning tens of millions in unpaid debt. And Lennon noted that one from nine is hardly an earth shattering managerial record.
“I think he’s done a good job, yeah. He’s won the league under a lot of pressure, which we all were. We know in Glasgow that we have to win.
“Steven maybe hasn’t won as many trophies as he would have liked but he’s done what he has set out to do. I think he maybe got a bit longer than some managers would have done.
“I think he maybe got a bit longer than some managers would have done. But he’s got (the)Rangers into a good position now.”
On how the title race will pan out between Gerrard and the new Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, Lennon reckons that the Australian will close the gap that was created points wise last season and the title will be neck and neck this year. “I think it will be close this season,” Lennon stated.
On the situation at Celtic – the mess we’re in caused mostly by Lennon and his pal Peter Lawwell, the former Celtic manager’s advice is to clear out the Want Aways, which he estimates number 4 or 5 (Ntcham, Edouard, Ajer, Christie and maybe one more) and replace them with players good enough to challenge for the title, then we should be okay. Speaking on talkSport today Lennon reckons that the current situation squad-wise is not as bad as is being made out.
“First of all, they’ve got to sort out who wants to stay and who wants to go. Obviously there are four or five there who want to move on and then they’ve got to get the recruitment process sorted out as well.
“I think once they get the quality of players in that can be expected to challenge in Scotland, I think they will be alright. I don’t think it will be as bad as everybody is making out,” Lennon added.
And with yesterday’s very positive news concerning the relaxing of the various restrictions later this month and the removal of most in early August it looks like the Celtic support will be back at Paradise to roar the team on. The queue at the ticket office today was large incidentally. That, Lennon believes, is going to be crucial.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a few fans in next season as well. I think that was a huge loss to a club like Celtic.
“I think financially they are okay. There’s not the pot of money that was there before the pandemic hit but I think financially they are still in a strong position.
“Obviously, the Champions League games come very, very early. If they could make that then the whole season opens up. But if not, I think they will still try to win the league and I don’t see any reason why they can’t.”
