Neil Lennon

Watching this on my lunch break just now always love the story’s from them

 

NL: It’s going to be a tough game. We’ve got really stiff opposition so we’re giving this our utmost concentration."

NL: "Ferencvaros had some pretty good results in the Europa League last season, and they had a pretty comfortable win against Djurgarden in the previous round, so I expect it to be a really tough game for us.

NL: "We’ve got a team and a squad full of international players, and I think our Europa League run [last season] will hopefully stand them in good stead by giving them a taste of what they could have going forward."

NL: "Ultimately we want to play in the Champions League, but we know that these ties are very difficult to negotiate.

NL: "We’ll have a very motivated team tomorrow but just without that great support have. And it is a loss, there’s no question of that, and we’re going to have to adapt as best as we can."


NL on Ryan Christie: "He’s a top-quality player, so no matter where we play him, whether it be 8, 10 or in a wide position, he delivers with a lot of energy and a lot of quality."

 

Neil Lennon insists his transfer plans do not hinge on progress in the Champions League.

But the Celtic gaffer admits reaching the glamour group stage could tip the scales in him securing additional quality for his ranks.


Lennon says it’s all about prestige and not pound notes as his side go into battle against Ferencvaros on Wednesday night.

Parkhead chiefs are currently working on deals for immediate targets such as Motherwell’s David Turnbull and Brighton defender Shane Duffy.


Lennon and the recruitment team have other irons in the fire and the boss has revealed that some business could be concluded nearer to the early October deadline.

The Celtic gaffer is adamant that dealings won’t be affected by the outcome of the Champions League qualifiers, but does confess that making the groups may open fresh doors in the market.



Asked if Celtic needed to bank group stage cash to fund his plans, Lennon said: “No, we don’t need to get it.



If we get in the Champions League then it puts us in an even stronger position to attract players and have more finances available, but financially we are in a decent healthy position at the minute.



Maybe from a footballing point of view the player might say the Champions League is a big carrot to come here, so it’s important to get Champions League football for so many different reasons and that’s another one to add.

“We have our eye on a couple of potential signings, but we are nowhere near fulfilling any of those at the minute. I can’t really add anything more to that.




I would hope that we are not going to lose any more players. I am happy with the squad, but I would like to make a couple of more additions, as I’ve said over the past few weeks.

“A lot of these things can be protracted and we may look at later on in the window when we might be able to get better value for money for players as well.”

While describing Turnbull as “good player” after previously admitting the enquiry over Duffy, Lennon insists he cannot allow transfer issues to detract his focus from tonight’s massive contest against the Hungarians and his deep desire to get the club back to the group stage of Europe’s elite tournament.

He said: “I’m getting all this speculation and chat and rumours and this is the age we live in.

“It’s torture. I have to concentrate on the job at hand.



It would just be a good achievement to get there [to groups]. I’ve done it twice and I want it for the club and for the players.

“We have focused really hard and knuckled down Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and are in our own little bubble, so nothing is getting in or out and our concentration levels are very good.



Lennon, has confirmed he’ll have discussions with club medical chiefs in the next few days after FIFA gave clubs the power to prevent stars leaving for international duty if they face quarantine upon return.


Striker Odsonne Edouard and goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas are amongst those within Lennon’s squad who could be affected by the issue.

Lennon stated it is “absolutely not”’ feasible for his players to quarantine for 14 days upon return with big club games looming and added: “I only became aware of it on Monday night.

“So I’ll talk to our Covid officer after the game against Ferencvaros and take a view of whether the players will get special dispensation or whether they would have to quarantine.

“This is something the club is going to have to have dialogue with relevant associations.

“We will have to discuss it and prepare for that over the next few days and have a chat to the individual players as well and tell them it may or may not be able to happen.”

 

Everyone and their granny wants him to play 2 strikers so naturally he plays none.

He's been miles off it the last few weeks needs to get the finger out

 

Starting a Champions League qualifiers with no recognised striker is sheer lunacy.

Griffiths needs to have a long hard look at himself, as well. (I know that he is 'injured'. Perhaps he would have avoided that injury if he had prepared for the coming season like everyone else.)

 

By playing no striker Lenny is effectively playin a 4-6-0. Shove your Levein tactics up yer * Lenny and get a striker on.
None are match fit but 2 on the bench!?
Jesus wept.


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He's gonna cost us big time only so many times you can say he needs to learn before it becomes apparent he's not learning

 

What a stubborn *. 2 * strikers there. Let’s play a centre mid up top

 

Clear it Barkas ye stupid *

 

If only he had the ability to learn. He simply doesn't. Either we find someone else or accept literally any professional team in Europe can beat us.

 

Lennon not starting a striker is * criminal man giving ajeti 12 mins to do something

 

I’ll not be back as long as he’s manager .... that’s 3 times now pumped at home by pish opposition he won’t learn and I don’t thinks he’s too bothered to be honest this whole mess at start of the season is a * up of his own making giving players time can only presume because he wanted the time off


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* it against Cluj, * it here. And still his annoying habits regarding subs. He isn't learning, isn't progressing. He won't be sacked but major questions have to be asked.

 

* it against Cluj, * it here. And still his annoying habits regarding subs. He isn't learning, isn't progressing. He won't be sacked but major questions have to be asked.

 

That’s a sackable performance tonight, he’ll cost us the 10.

 

Dunno how he will get out of this one. £5m on a striker last week, doesn’t start. £7m on a CB last summer doesn’t start in the qualifiers.

He got a weird thing where he doesn’t let new signings in straight away.

 

hibs level manager