Neil Lennon

Neil Lennon will refuse to take credit for Celtic’s 
Scottish Cup win if they 
complete the treble Treble against Hearts on Saturday.

The stand-in boss handed the plaudits for their eighth league win in a row to Brendan Rodgers after seeing the title over the line at 
Aberdeen two weeks ago.



But despite doing the heavy lifting in the Scottish Cup – bossing three of the five games they’ll need to win it and winning their quarter and semi-finals impressively against Hibs and Aberdeen– he said: “The ownership of it belongs to the players. This is their time.

“They’ve already done something remarkable with the double Treble, and it’s ridiculous that we’re even sitting here talking about them doing a treble Treble.


So my feelings will be more delight for the players than myself because I know what it’s like to do something special at a club like this.

“And they have the opportunity to do something special again.

“What they can do has never been done before so that’s how difficult it is. We were delighted in 2001, euphoric to win the Treble. It was the first one since the late 60s and these boys are on the cusp of the third one in a row.

“It is amazing what they’re doing. Take stock, step back and have a look at it for what it is. It is remarkable really.



Never say never but I think we are talking a long, long time before 
anything ever comes close.

“But we have to negotiate the Cup Final first before we can start talking about that. My feelings will be more for them than anyone else.



We don’t take it for granted, we don’t take it lightly so we’re planning and everything is in place.

“The Cup Final is the one outstanding game left in the season.

“It’s the last one, there’s fatigue there so they need to come down off it a little bit in terms of rest and recovery. We want them peaking again for the Cup Final.”

However, despite Hearts’ lamentable form – beating Inverness in the semi is their only win in the last seven games – Lennon has warned his players to guard against the shock that would stop history in its tracks


And he cited one of the worst defeats of his career, a Scottish Cup game against Clyde which was Roy Keane’s debut for the club in 2006, as evidence enough that their 26 straight knockout wins doesn’t guarantee them 27.



He said: “You have to get it right and I know because I have been knocked out of cups as a player and a manager where, if you’re not right on the day, then you get done. No matter who the opposition is.

“We got knocked out by Clyde one year. If you are not bang at it, and maybe last week is a wee reminder, you can get beat. But the players know what is at stake next week.”

 

Love Lenny......."It's my duty thanks for having me"

 

Legend.

 

Dignified as ever, but he had the air of a man who knows his time is up.

 

If it's Pardew I'll cut off his goolies.

 

It was written all over his face today and has been for a while to be honest..

Deserves respect whatever he does after..

 

I'll repeat what I said on the day Rodgers left... This guy is a proper Celtic man and I love him!

 

Everycunt loves him

 

if it's Pardew, i'll cut aff YOUR goolies

 

100% this.

I still think he's a good manager, mate. Is he good enough for Celtic as we are now? Well, we can debate that all day; but I think most of us can agree he's still a good manager and will do just fine somewhere. The way we are run now and the way the job is, there are plenty of very good managers that aren't good enough for Celtic these days.

 

Fully agree.

If we knew he was leaving everyone would be united in praising the job he has done - despite it being ugly at times - and we'd have the chance to thank him and sing his name at every opportunity without restraint.

 

It might not be Lenny's time yet. Don't forget we were his first real foray into management. Once he's been around the block a while (if he chooses to) he would bring more to the table as a manager in terms of experience and a broader range of contacts in the footballing world. It's a strange thing to say about a man who has brought us so much already but times are a changing in the football world and we the fans have higher expectations now. BR could most likely pick the phone up to speak to any number of sources in the EPL ......that was one of his advantages over Lenny. He might also have been trusted with a higher budget had he stayed. I don't think any manager should be served the job on a platter but Neil Lennon is the most deserving.

 

Think Kilmarnock would be a good gig for him ? I think he'll stay in Scotland.

 

The thing is, if it’s between Lennon and a big name like Benitez then aye Benitez all day long. But if it’s some no name like the Ronny Deila appointment Lennon is a far better option imo

 

I’ll help you if you cut my heid aff.

 

Brilliant post mate.