The Star Malaysia

Find another club!

Furious Celtic boss Lennon tells uncommitte­d players to leave

-

LONDON: Neil Lennon has told players not committed to Celtic to leave, blaming their attitude for the Scottish champion’s humiliatin­g 2-1 Champions League exit to Hungarian outfit Ferencvaro­s.

The 49-year-old Celtic manager was also left counting the financial cost for the club of their second qualifying round exit, the first time in 15 years they have gone out so early.

Celtic, who last made the group stage in the 2017-2018 season, are consigned to the second tier Europa League and will learn their third qualifying round opponents next Tuesday.

“There are some players who may want to leave,” said Lennon

If they are making waves to leave the club they are obviously not committed. We want players committed to the club. Neil Lennon

after Wednesday’s loss.

“They have made inroads into that in the last six months or so.

“So if they don’t want to be here, we have to do something about it.

“If they are making waves to leave the club they are obviously not committed.

“We want players committed to the club.

“I am not going to go into it but I am putting it out there because it has been bugging me for a long, long time.”

Ferencvaro­s are the third successive side to beat Celtic in Glasgow in European competitio­n.

They were beaten 4-3 at home by Cluj of Romania in the Champions League third qualifying round last season, then lost 3-1 to Danish side Copenhagen in the Europa League last 32 in Glasgow. Lennon said he had a clear message for the players which he hoped they would take on board before the Europa League campaign.

“Get your mentality right, get your attitude right.”

Lennon has had a problemati­c start to the season on and off the pitch.

He was left seething by Belgian defender Boli Bolingoli going on an unauthoris­ed trip to Spain and then not self-isolating – as he was obliged to do under the coronaviru­s pandemic protocols – on his return.

As a result two of their Premiershi­p games were postponed.

 ?? — AP ?? Going all out: Ferencvaro­s’ Adnan Kovacevic (right) vying for the ball with Celtic’s Ryan Christie during the second round of the Champions League qualifiers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland.
— AP Going all out: Ferencvaro­s’ Adnan Kovacevic (right) vying for the ball with Celtic’s Ryan Christie during the second round of the Champions League qualifiers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malaysia