NEIL LENNON has shrugged off any suggestion Celtic’s defeat at Ibrox was a marker being laid down for next season.
Celtic didn’t perform at their peak and fielded an unfamiliar defence during their match against the runners-up last weekend.
Celtic has dominated their rivals this season, making the 3-0 victory at a game with no stakes a cause for exaggerated celebration by the Ibrox team and its supporters.
The crucial victories that contributed to Celtic’s triumphs, winning the league title, the League Cup, and securing a spot in the Scottish Cup final, were all won by the Hoops.
Neil Lennon, former Celtic captain and manager, endorsed Ange Postecoglou’s strategy of testing the mettle of his fringe players in a high-pressure environment.
Addressing the assertions by pundits and Ibrox supporters that the win was a prediction of their future performance, Neil firmly stated:
“That didn’t happen and it never does. Rangers will look completely different come August or September, and I’m sure Celtic will have different personnel too.” Lennon told Football Scotland.
Neil Lennon (L) and Henrik Larsson – Celtic
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee Smith
“You can’t look too much into that 3-0 game. The edge had gone from Celtic after they won the title at Tynecastle the week before.
“You can talk about playing for pride at Ibrox if you want to call it that, but I wouldn’t take much from it in terms of going forward. I don’t know how upset fans were by that result but it’s academic, really.
“Ange did the right thing making changes because he has to see whether his fringe players can adapt.
“With the league over, he could afford to do that and give some regulars a rest.
“It’s been a long season and a few have looked a little fatigued in recent weeks. But at this stage that’s more mental than physical.
“Getting over the line is a great feeling and it’s a relief for everyone once you know you’re the champions again.
“Ange will also have an eye on the Cup final and won’t want to risk injuries to key men, although I imagine he’ll use his strongest team in the games just before it.”
Celtic is using their last three games in the SPFL to fine-tune themselves ahead of the cup final on June 3.
The bhoys can make it a world record 8th treble by beating Inverness in the Scottish Cup final. It’s incredible to think, the Bhoys had only won three trebles in their history until 2015.
