NEIL LENNON spoke to the Media last night after arriving in Rennes ahead of this evening’s Europa League Group stages match in the Brittany capital. Celtic have been undefeated in European football this season so far including getting a draw in Romania and a win in Sweden and will want to keep that record in tact against the French cup winners.
And the Celtic manager has challenged his players to prove how good they are by going on to WIN this tough Europa League Group which also includes Lazio and our old foes Cluj.
The Rennes manager Julien Stephan reckons that Celtic are second favourites behind Lazio but Neil Lennon is not so sure about that assessment. However the Celtic manager does reckon that the group is there to be won.
“I think so. You could throw a blanket over the four teams, but there is not much in it.
“Every team will take points off each other as it goes on. I think Lazio are a quality side, but I think we are a quality side too and so are Rennes.
“I know Cluj have their own qualities. Yes, they lost to Slavia Prague, who got a great result in the San Siro the other night.
“But in the away game against Prague they could easily have equalised. Remember, Cluj put us out of the Champions League qualifiers. They cannot be discounted in this group.
“Cluj have a different way of playing that is maybe not easy on the eye, but it is effective, and they will maybe give someone a bloody nose along the way.
“Rennes are second in Ligue One, so their quality is obvious. I think you have got four really good teams,” the Celtic manager noted.
“Lazio are a team of European pedigree and one of the best teams in Serie A. We’ve had great domestic success in the last three or four years in Scotland.
“The group is open and every team will be looking to have a say and hope to qualify. I’m not convinced who the favourites really are, it’s probably too early to say, although you could possibly say the pedigree’s with Lazio.
“But I’m not so sure. It’s four good teams.”
Lennon hopes that Celtic’s perfect start in the Scottish Premiership can help the side in European action this evening.
“We’re very excited about being in the competition. We’re very excited about the quality of teams we’re going to play in this group. There’s a lot of glamour in the group for us.
“We’ve earned the right to be in the group by playing a lot of good football so far. But nothing’s guaranteed. We’re very well motivated for the game against Rennes, but we know how difficult a test this is going to be.
“We’re always looking to improve our away record in Europe and this is the next test for us. It’s one we’re wary of but one we’re also looking forward to,” Lenny said at his Media Conference (watch below) as reported by Scottish Sun.
Leigh Griffiths stayed in Glasgow with a thigh strain but will be fine for the weekend. Other stars missing are Nir Bitton (hamstring), Jozo Simunovic (knee) and Mikey Johnston (groin) but there’s better news concerning Christopher Jullien who is fine after the weekend head-knock at Hamilton.
The Celtic manager is likely to turn to his three French players, Jullien, Odsonne Edouard and Olivier Ntcham – who could be played as an extra midfielder to combat Rennes 3-5-2 system.
Watch Neil Lennon’s Media Conference in Rennes ahead of tonight’s match below and remember it’s an early kick-off!
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR THIS MORNING...
Why Celtic’s European Credibility is at Stake in Rennes – David Potter…see HERE.
“With the form we’re on now we definitely come here posing an attacking threat.”https://t.co/bGuSl9M2cN
— Celtic View (@CelticView) September 18, 2019
