Martin O’Neill Shares ‘Angry’ Neil Lennon Meeting Ahead of Final

Martin O’Neill insists he was not trying to wind Neil Lennon up before the Scottish Cup Final, although he clearly enjoyed telling the story anyway.

The Celtic interim manager revealed Lennon was “really angry” during a sponsor photo session ahead of Saturday’s Hampden clash between Celtic and Dunfermline.

The pair have spent the entire week praising each other publicly before what has become one of the most emotional cup final storylines in years. Lennon remains one of O’Neill’s closest football allies after playing under him at Leicester City and Celtic before following his own path into management.

But according to O’Neill, things became slightly awkward when they were brought together for photographs before the final.

Lennon apparently was not impressed with the timing or the framing around the “master and pupil” narrative that has surrounded the fixture all week. O’Neill joked that his former captain had calmed down since then, although there was still obvious affection underneath the story.

There is also real competitive edge there now.

Lennon has dragged Dunfermline from a struggling Championship side into a Scottish Cup Final through organisation and belief. Celtic meanwhile arrive after one of the wildest title wins in recent memory under O’Neill following the stoppage-time drama against Hearts.

O’Neill discussed the exchange during his press conference.

He said: (PLZ Soccer), “Right, can I say something now, it’s almost off with him. Neil, when I went out to have some photographs with him, he was incensed, right.

“He wasn’t happy with me for not being here in time for a start. Secondly, I thought that we were staggering things to do it, it was not meant for this.

“I don’t think he was happy with the master and the pupil because we’re both about the same age, no we’re not, but it’s not that.

“But the most important thing of all of the scene, but he’s calmed down now a little bit, he’s definitely calmed down.

“I was not playing mind games with him, not at all, but he was really angry.

“Honestly, I would love to win. I’d really love to win and that would be a major disappointment but I’m up against a very, very angry young man.“

The exchange summed both men up perfectly.

O’Neill still slips naturally into storytelling and sarcasm even before huge matches. Lennon meanwhile clearly wants all the focus on winning rather than sentiment around their relationship.

That probably suits Dunfermline.

Lennon knows his side are underdogs technically against Celtic over 90 minutes. His team will likely try to make the match physical centrally and stay compact around the box before looking for moments through transitions and set plays.

O’Neill understands that threat better than anyone.

Which is probably why he sounded genuinely wary underneath all the jokes.