Neil Lennon

Playing ‘devils advocate’ doesn’t mean make zero sense and think it’s ok because you’ve signposted you’re talking * mate.

 

NL: We're looking a lot stronger as we head into the game [with players coming back]."

NL: "The objective is always to win the game, that is not going to change. We're at home and we'll be hoping to take advantage of that.

NL: "We know the fans will generate that atmosphere which always helps us. The home advantage is always great at Celtic Park."

NL on reaction since last Glasgow Derby: "I think it shows the consistency of this team. The players have reacted brilliantly.


NL: "We'll treat it like any other game and prepare properly."

 

NEIL Lennon said he expected his Celtic side to assert their dominance in Sunday’s Glasgow derby and added he wanted his players to feed off the special atmosphere inside Paradise.

The Irishman will take charge of the Hoops for his first Glasgow derby since returning as Celtic manager last month, and a win would see Celtic move 13 points clear at the top of the table.

The Scottish champions have won 12 and drawn one of the 13 domestic fixtures this year, and Neil Lennon said the players will be looking to continue that run by making up for the narrow defeat the last time the two sides met.

“I’m sure it’ll be lingering in the back of their minds, as all defeats do,” he said when addressing the media at Lennoxtown this afternoon (Friday). “There will be extra incentive and motivation for the players to win the game for that.

“A win would be a hammer blow, not insurmountable, but we’re talking hypothetically. The objective is always to win the game whenever we play our nearest rivals. That’s not going to change and the mind-set will be, we’re at home and will look to take the game to Rangers at every opportunity.

“We’ll be prepared for any eventuality and will be focusing on what we’re going to do. Hopefully we can dominate the game and dominate the ball like we can.

"I would like us to be a bit more physical than we were at Ibrox. That’s always an important attribute to have in a derby.”

The Celtic manager insisted he was too focused on preparations for the upcoming game to be distracted by the build-up, but said that the atmosphere created by the Celtic fans would inevitably move him as it always does.

“I’m feeling quite calm at the minute and I’m not allowing myself to be distracted by all the noise and hype around it," he said. “I won’t know until I smell it and the instincts sort of kick in. We’re just concentrating on what we’re doing on a day-to-day basis and preparing for another big game.

"Once the whistle goes you’re fine and you can take whatever comes with it. But the build-up can be tough at times. This one’s been a little bit different. It’s been a lot calmer, probably because we’re in a decent position coming into it as well.

“It’s going to be all Celtic fans so I’m quite please about that. I want Rangers to feel the noise and power we can generate in the stadium. Not just from the players but from the supporters as well. That’s what being at home in a derby is all about. We generate that atmosphere and feed off that.

“It’s always a huge advantage being at home. Our record in recent years has been pretty good and our home record over the last couple of years domestically has been superb.”

 

Even Neil Lennon’s press conferences seem quieter than before.

If there is a desire to keep the headlines at bay, there will be no complaints if he finds himself splashed across the back pages on Monday morning. For the right reasons, of course.

If the interim Celtic manager’s mask slipped with an emotional celebration a fortnight ago with a 95-th minute winner at Dens Park, it is nothing to how it might fall with a win over Rangers tomorrow afternoon.

Lennon sought to play down the pressure and focus on the game in terms of his own current interim role, but there is little question that the manner of the performance tomorrow will be viewed through the prism of his suitability with regards to a permanent job in the dug-out.


The 47-year-old’s history goes before him in this fixture. Indeed, some of the most arresting images of the games through the years have Lennon firmly front and centre; Martin O’Neill with a defiant arm slung around the shoulders of the midfielder in his playing days after one ugly afternoon, being sent to the stand at Ibrox in his first managerial role at the club while Lennon’s spat with Ally McCoist caused such an uproar it made it all the way to the Scottish Parliament.

This is Lennon’s first game against Rangers since 2012 – a 3-0 win in his favour – with significant changes since then. Least of all in Lennon himself.

“I’m probably a lot calmer this time. I’m more experienced and a little less hot headed,” he said. “I’ll just let the game take its course and try to help everybody keep their emotions in check as you can get carried away as we’ve seen before. I think a lot of the players will have their own self-motivation for this game after the defeat at Ibrox.

“It will just be a question of reminding them of their good habits. We need to start the game well I think. We have to earn the right to play as well. The cushion helps. There’s not question of that. We know if we win it’s a huge gap. If we lose it’s still comfortable but we’re not trying to think of that eventuality obviously.


The motivation is to win and win well and take it from there as quickly as we can.”

If controversy seems to be a prerequisite where these games are concerned, it might make for an awkward start to the week.

Lennon and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard became neighbours this summer, not that there has been too much community camaraderie between them these past few months. Nor has there been any requirement for the getting-to-know-you small talk.

Lennon and Gerrard barely crossed paths in their respective careers, yet Lennon will feel that he has little need to serve notice of his presence. As a Celtic player he was part of the side who put Gerrard’s Liverpool out of the UEFA Cup in 2003, as Hibernian manager he twice held Gerrard to a share of the points earlier this season.

Sunday’s meeting between the two promises further intrigue. Just who has their blinds up on Monday morning will explain the narrative on how Sunday’s game develops. “If it’s a draw, we’ll have them both open,” joked Lennon. “He [Gerrard] lives across the road actually. Obviously, we don’t see much of each other socially.

“I met him in Portugal a few times and played in his golf charity. Obviously, I was up here for the majority of my time and Steven was in England, but when I’ve met him, we’ve got on very well. I can’t remember if I played against him in the Premier League or not, but there was the UEFA Cup games and he was one of the modern-day greats.


What he did for Liverpool individually as a player was very, very difficult to compare with anyone else in terms of trophy haul and performances in big games.

“I think he manages as he plays. He’s a winner and he sets good standards for his players and his club.”

One of the notable results this term for Gerrard has been the win over Celtic at Ibrox. Lennon was still ensconced in the Hibs dug-out at that point but admitted that Celtic were uncharacteristically limp that day as he watched from a distance.

If Rangers felt there was a psychological boost from their first win over Celtic in 13 attempts, any advantage has been undone by their inconsistencies in the aftermath of that result to the point where a team who were level on points that afternoon in December now have a 10-point gap between them.

In fairness, Celtic still had a game in hand but the manner in which the chasm has widened gives Lennon’s side a buffer against any potential slip-ups tomorrow.

“They need to learn from that [defeat at Ibrox] and draw on the experience of how they felt afterwards as well and use that as a motivation. Obviously, in analysis we’ll be showing them some clips of the game and where we didn’t do so well.

“But since that game there’s been a tremendous reaction particularly domestically. The mentality of the team has been very good.”

And Lennon himself won’t allow the afternoon to wash over him, either.

“I think you enjoy the game when it’s going on,” he said. When you are in the throes of the game you are in what they call the zone. Afterwards, if you win it’s a great relief. When you lose it’s difficult.”

 

Aberdeen game was his homecoming, the support during this game will be a whole different level cant wait

 

The Hang Neil Lennon graffiti appearing in ayrshire

 

Wait till he lifts the rebel treble. It'll sicken the * even more

 

Will be them hanging themselves.

 

More the merrier

 

It really is a breath of fresh air hearing Lenny talk about our performances and players. He gives you no BS and tells it exactly like it is, whereas Rodgers was all posturing for the media rather than giving an actual honest assessment.

 

Some big calls today for NL.
Right back, left back, left wing, 2 up top or 1 in behind.
As long as whoever starts gives there all and the 4 leaf clover is shining on us it’s game over.

 

Really hope so too cause I'm sure their game plan will be the same as it was last game because this is the closest they'll get to silverware so they'll only park the bus if they go in front, there is nothing in it for them playing for a draw.

I hope the keeper and defense have been told to hoof it when there is the slightest presence of pressing cause that is a dodgy tactic that has undone us a few times when we are all over teams, plus I think when teams press us like that a hoofball over the top can cause them problems and scare the * out of them so much they decide to take it easy with the pressing.

Us on the other hand should be pressing as hard as we can because we have the quality and pace to create instant threats and our defense is more than capable of handling hoofed clearances.

I'm not saying we should be playing over the top all the time but as great as we are playing quick passing on the surface I think our pace up front is something that should make us play over the top now and again as it creates another problem for teams when they can't predict for sure what we're going to do. It bugs me when our passes get intercepted sometimes because of players trying to play on the deck no matter what even when passing options are limited due to players being marked. Of course we should be aiming to play triangles all the time, it's what we're good at and it's so exciting to watch.

 

This is why I would like Burke and Eddy up top. Yes, Burke’s first touch is poor but his pace And presence along with Eddy will have them worried. They are * at the back.

 

Aye I think the thing about pace is it only takes one good first touch to create a goal so it's worth it to try a few times.

 

Burke's pace, strength and directness will come in handy later on in the game.

Oh * yes it will indeed!!!!