Neil Lennon spoke to the Mainstream Media today ahead of tomorrow’s Premiership match against Motherwell at Celtic Park. The Celtic manager confirmed that Ryan Christie is a “big doubt” after rolling his ankle in the 4-0 win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Tuesday night. He also admitted that it was “a big surprise” that the Scottish FA have charged Albian Ajeti with simulation for the penalty incident in that midweek game – Lennon insisting that there was contact and stating that simulation is when there is no contact.
There’s a discussion about the lack of fans that has had “a huge detrimental effect not just on the players but on the club itself” and Lennon points to various examples across the game – including at Liverpool – where the results seem to have been affected by the lack of supporters at the game to drive the team on.
Celtic go into the game after that decent win at Rugby Park. “I was very pleased with the comprehensive win away from home and we’ll look to take that attitude and demeanour into the game tomorrow,” Lennon stated. On Motherwell though he reckons that their front three are a handful for any team in the league, so Celtic defending needs to be much better than last weekend.
Lennon is a fan of the new Motherwell manager, noting the changes that he’s made tactically since taking over the job from Stephen Robinson: “Graham (Alexander) had a stellar career as a player. He’s done very well in his coaching career so far.
“They’ve changed their set up a little bit. Defensively at set plays they look more organised, they’ve switched from man marking to zonal. The front three could be a handful for anybody as well.”
READ THIS…Green Brigade Display ‘Lennon Out’ Banner at Lennoxtown and Issue New Statement
Watch the entire Mainstream Media Conference with the Celtic manager below. There were no questions about the protest outside Lennoxtown today from the Green Brigade – as we reported on earlier today – or the ongoing Lennon out campaign that a group of Celtic fans are conducting on social media, amid growing annoyance among the wider support. Nor were there any questions about the planned and promised New Year review of Lennon’s own assurance from last autumn that he’d look at things himself if there has not been an improvement in results.
Had the Celtic Fans Media been present today these issues would have been raised. Maybe that’s why it was just another day for the hacks to ask the questions…
Today’s press conference is another week of softball questions. Nothing thoughtful or challenging. Awful.
— The Cynic (@90MinuteCynic) February 5, 2021
