Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has given his view on the current mood at Parkhead after a tough week for the club.
Celtic crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers to Kairat in midweek, sparking more anger from fans already annoyed at the lack of new signings.
Focus has also shifted onto Adam Idah, with doubts over his future and talk that the striker could be on his way. For a squad in desperate need of fresh faces, the thought of losing a key player has only made things worse.
Brendan Rodgers wanted to kick on from last season’s success, but his plans have stalled with little movement in the market and the clear fact that top players are hard to land without Champions League football. Celtic have been here before, and Lennon knows well how heavy that pressure can be.
Lennon summed up just how draining the past week has been for both Celtic and Rangers, pointing out the strain on bosses when so many issues hit at the same time.
He said: (Sky Sports), “This is the worst week to be a Rangers or Celtic manager. You’ve got the transfer window, the Champions League qualifier, and then this at the end of it.
“Results for both teams didn’t go well, players want out, and sometimes they’ve got the power — pretending to be injured or refusing to play. There’s not a lot managers can do. It’s very disappointing.
“For Celtic, Brendan wanted to push the club on, but without guaranteed Champions League football it’s hard to get the quality of player they want. Agents aren’t bringing £12m players to play in the Europa League. Maybe that’s just their level this season, unfortunately.”
Lennon’s comments highlight the root of Celtic’s issues. Champions League football doesn’t just add prestige, it brings the money and attraction needed to sign the kind of players Rodgers has been asking for. Without it, Celtic face a real struggle in the transfer market.
Rodgers’ aim to move the team forward is obvious, but his plans are being held back by slow signings and doubts over key players. Idah’s future is only one part of the problem, the squad still needs major investment before the window closes.
Fans are running out of patience. After last season’s double, they expected the board to give Rodgers proper backing. Instead, rivals have strengthened while Celtic slipped up at the first big European test.
In short, Lennon’s words are a warning. If Celtic don’t act fast and with purpose, this season could be remembered not for progress, but for missed chances and lowered expectations.
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5 responses
Find it hard to take Lennie seriously now as he was just a stoogie as manager to lawwell.
I think you are so far off the mark you’re wearing a blindfold!
Neil Lennon proved himself over and over again to be a Celtic legend not only as a player, and a captain, but also as a manager on not one, but TWO occasions!
So he didn’t manage to take the tenth title in a row!
That wasn’t all on Lennon! Not by a long shot!
You show naivety when you want to blame him for things, anything in fact, that he isn’t responsible for, just because we didn’t win ten in a row!
In fact, had you been listening to Ian Maxwell of the SFA before that season started, you’d have KNOWN we weren’t going to be winning it that season!
He made it very clear in advance that “this is a very important season in Scottish football because if Celtic are to win the league again, it would be ten titles in a row”!
So what?
Why would the chief of the SFA care about that I wonder?
Yes in perfect world lennon knows how hard it is to get the right players in some of the players Scottish media mention Celtic might not be looking at it know anderlect player is wanted by Celtic Anderlect will sell him but are looking for a bidding war I see he in the squad for today so is Idah do you think they will play doubtful looks the part but idah did to and supporters agreed we need a poacher to get the end of rebounds in packed area thats was or down fall breaking down park the bus teams we play against it every week spoiling the game time waisting going down veining injuries stop rhythm of the game yes we had enough chances to win surface was poor for passing game we went long we got in behind them they didn’t like been turned cant believe Rodgers stuck with passing game miaeda missed ball bobbling look at McGregor ball back the bounce it took if you cant plant your foot you cant hit it true now for Glasgow derby yes id have picked that team with the players available no supporters can take high ground the Rangers will sit in and punt up to milovski and reports there buying a Everton youngster 10 million worst about buying epl players or from epl teams there market is so inflated a substitute yes might be top player its a gamble but at that age can get some back yes might work out but im biased don’t want to see good players going ipox unless there in away strip yes quite right to hold Idah till you get a replacement was bitten twice shy
Just watched the first half of the Ibrox clash – not a single shot on or off target for Celtic. There’s no power up front for Celtic, nothing that might even hint of a threat. Rangers on the other hand are more fired up and better equipped up front.
This Celtic team is a mere shadow of the team we had last season. In addition to that, we have passengers like Scales and Hatate. Scales makes so many mistakes playing out from the back and Hatate looks like he simply can’t be bothered. Nygren and Engels try to put a mark on the game but they don’t have the skills of players like Jota, Kyogo and Kuhn. I really fear for Celtic this season unless that Board spends very big on the last day of the transfer window to buy in some much-needed quality up front. It’s a disaster.
And I have to say that with his negative football tactics, Brendan Rodgers is ultimately responsible for having driven out our best talent. These guys flourished on fast-paced football until Rodgers came in with his boring style and destroyed a great attacking team. There is noting remotely “Elite” about Brendan Rodgers as a manager.
Keep hearing that Celtic and Rangurs are Europa league level teams.
Let’s be honest, at the moment they look more like Conference League teams.