ALBIAN AJETI started to re-pay Neil Lennon for the Celtic manager showing belief in the player and putting his money where his mouth is by authorising the £5million transfer from West Ham earlier this month. His goal yesterday certainly suggests that this was indeed money shrewdly invested in the team and that Ajeti could have a big say in his this season is going to pan out.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the 1-0 win over Dundee Utd, the match-winner recognised the importance of securing the three points and was very happy at getting his first goal for the Hoops.
“I’m very happy. First, it was important to get the three points here. It was a tough game, with a strong opponent who was fighting. But we had plenty of chances and it was just a matter of time before we scored the first goal.
“I don’t put pressure on myself because I know I can score goals. I have shown that many times. I will do my best for the team and try to score as many as possible,” Albian Ajeti said.
“The difference between West Ham and here is that I feel the trust from the gaffer. He’s given me my confidence back and for a striker it’s important to feel that and have a good relationship with the manager.”
Swiss goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist looked like breaking Celtic hearts until the super-sub Ajeti forced home that late winner. “I actually know the keeper from Switzerland, he’s a friend of mine but today we were opponents,” the Celtic star said.
Neil Lennon himself was full of praise for the £5m striker and predicts we’ll see a plenty more from the former FC Basel goalscorer when he’s fully fit.
“Is that the first of many? I hope so,” Lenny said. “I don’t want to make predictions but looking at him and the type of player he was at Basel, he knows where the goal is.
“He knows how to play centre forward so we’re hoping we can tap into that here. I’m delighted for Ajeti, it’s always good for a striker to come in and make an early impact.
“You can see he’s not match fit yet but that’ll do his confidence the world of good. He did great to keep the ball alive for the goal. We were thinking he was going to flick it into the goalie’s arms and it would die. But he kept it alive then flashed a great finish. And I think some of his link up play was good as well.
He’s a work in progress in terms of his fitness. He’s still another couple of weeks away. He has to get used to the speed of the game and how we play. But having that early impact will do him good. He’s had a tough time of it in the last 12 months.”
You can watch Albian Ajeti’s post match interview below, followed by Neil Lennon’s after the significant 1-0 victory for Celtic against Dundee Utd…
