cambridgeblue
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Lurgan bigot making digs at teams that have improved this season...
As Neil Lennon contemplated what have been the best and worst of times in his managerial career, he cited a tale of two cities by way of mitigation. The Celtic manager – whose players are at home to Hamilton tonight – supervised the completion of a fourth successive domestic treble by winning the deferred 2020 Scottish Cup final against Hearts last month, but defeat by Rangers in the New Year Old Firm derby eroded the already slim chance that the Hoops could achieve the 10th successive championship their supporters so ravenously desired.
The team’s subsequent warm-weather training trip to Dubai was rendered toxic by political point-scoring and the discovery that Christopher Jullien had tested positive for Covid-19, forcing Lennon, his assistant manager and 13 players to self-isolate during games against Hibs and Livingston, both of which were drawn. A further tied meeting with Livingston last week means that Celtic have yet to record a victory this year.
That said, the malaise affecting the team has been evident all season and Lennon suggested a parallel between events in the east end of Glasgow and at Liverpool, where the relationship between club and fans is regarded as similarly symbiotic. “I’m watching with interest how Liverpool are going,” Lennon said.
“There is a 30-point swing between them and Manchester United from this time last year. Now that’s not normal - it’s just not normal. Manchester United have improved but not to the extent of it being a 30-point swing.”
“Listen, I would not have enjoyed this season as a player. You thrive on the atmosphere. It brings the best out in you. We’ve talked for years of the European nights at Celtic Park where it lifted us to another level. The players have been bereft of that.”
“It’s not the total explanation but it is a part of it that there has been a flatness that comes from the lack of energy, atmosphere, rawness that normally the players would pick up on.”
Asked if that absence might have had the biggest effect on incoming players who have never experienced a full house on a high-octane occasion at Celtic Park, Lennon said: “The Celtic support is a huge selling point when you are bringing players in, especially players from a different environment, culture and way of playing football.
“They can’t go to a restaurant, can’t go for a coffee, be anywhere. It is just training ground or home. Some clubs have adapted better to it, some clubs haven’t and have clearly suffered and we are definitely one of those clubs that have.”
Without the allure and motivation of ravenous crowds and amidst a campaign that has unravelled for the defending champions, some Celtic players evidently had enough early in the proceedings, but Jeremie Frimpong was not believed to be amongst them until Tuesday, when it was revealed that the 20-year-old Dutch defender was abroad in talks - believed to be with Bayer Leverkusen - and that the Parkhead club had accepted a healthy offer for an individual who wanted out.
“This has been in the offing for the past couple of months,” Lennon said. “We offered the player talks for a new deal but he made it clear that he wanted to leave, despite our best efforts to keep him.”
“I feel a bit let down because we felt we could progress him further and we offered him a new deal which would have kept him here for another two or three years but it was down to the player’s personal ambition.”
Celtic look to keep slim hopes of 10th consecutive title alive as bottom club Hamilton visit Celtic Park
Neil Lennon sees parallels between Celtic and Liverpool, who have suffered a 30 point swing to Premier League leaders Manchester United
www.telegraph.co.uk
Celtic look to keep slim hopes of 10th consecutive title alive as bottom club Hamilton visit Celtic Park
Neil Lennon sees parallels between Celtic and Liverpool, who have suffered a 30 point swing to Premier League leaders Manchester UnitedAs Neil Lennon contemplated what have been the best and worst of times in his managerial career, he cited a tale of two cities by way of mitigation. The Celtic manager – whose players are at home to Hamilton tonight – supervised the completion of a fourth successive domestic treble by winning the deferred 2020 Scottish Cup final against Hearts last month, but defeat by Rangers in the New Year Old Firm derby eroded the already slim chance that the Hoops could achieve the 10th successive championship their supporters so ravenously desired.
The team’s subsequent warm-weather training trip to Dubai was rendered toxic by political point-scoring and the discovery that Christopher Jullien had tested positive for Covid-19, forcing Lennon, his assistant manager and 13 players to self-isolate during games against Hibs and Livingston, both of which were drawn. A further tied meeting with Livingston last week means that Celtic have yet to record a victory this year.
That said, the malaise affecting the team has been evident all season and Lennon suggested a parallel between events in the east end of Glasgow and at Liverpool, where the relationship between club and fans is regarded as similarly symbiotic. “I’m watching with interest how Liverpool are going,” Lennon said.
“There is a 30-point swing between them and Manchester United from this time last year. Now that’s not normal - it’s just not normal. Manchester United have improved but not to the extent of it being a 30-point swing.”
“Listen, I would not have enjoyed this season as a player. You thrive on the atmosphere. It brings the best out in you. We’ve talked for years of the European nights at Celtic Park where it lifted us to another level. The players have been bereft of that.”
“It’s not the total explanation but it is a part of it that there has been a flatness that comes from the lack of energy, atmosphere, rawness that normally the players would pick up on.”
Asked if that absence might have had the biggest effect on incoming players who have never experienced a full house on a high-octane occasion at Celtic Park, Lennon said: “The Celtic support is a huge selling point when you are bringing players in, especially players from a different environment, culture and way of playing football.
“They can’t go to a restaurant, can’t go for a coffee, be anywhere. It is just training ground or home. Some clubs have adapted better to it, some clubs haven’t and have clearly suffered and we are definitely one of those clubs that have.”
Without the allure and motivation of ravenous crowds and amidst a campaign that has unravelled for the defending champions, some Celtic players evidently had enough early in the proceedings, but Jeremie Frimpong was not believed to be amongst them until Tuesday, when it was revealed that the 20-year-old Dutch defender was abroad in talks - believed to be with Bayer Leverkusen - and that the Parkhead club had accepted a healthy offer for an individual who wanted out.
“This has been in the offing for the past couple of months,” Lennon said. “We offered the player talks for a new deal but he made it clear that he wanted to leave, despite our best efforts to keep him.”
“I feel a bit let down because we felt we could progress him further and we offered him a new deal which would have kept him here for another two or three years but it was down to the player’s personal ambition.”