LENNY IS THE ONE TO ONE FOR ME
Kris: Chats with new boss Neil have fired us up for tilt at treble
KRISTOFFER AJER has revealed oneto-one bonding sessions with boss Neil Lennon have charged Celtic for the run-in.
The Norwegian international and his team-mates are having their first full week of work under the new gaffer after his shock return nine days ago.
With games against Hearts and Hibs coming instantly after Lennon’s appointment, the beginning of this week and a rare blank midweek card has offered a proper opportunity for the interim manager to spend quality time with his new group.
Ajer has been among a raft of players who have sat down individually with the Northern Irishman to talk through tactics and personality.
The centre-back has taken great reassurance from the discussions and said: “The gaffer has been fantastic with the whole squad here.
“It was a difficult situation where the other manager suddenly changed job but he has been fantastic in terms of taking care of everyone, really showing that everyone will get an opportunity here at the club and the way he has been talking with me.
“I had a really nice chat with him earlier this week when he told me what he was thinking and what his plans were so it has been a really good week.
“He did that with a few of the boys. He has talked with a few of the players to get an understanding of them and learn more from them. It was also for us to learn more from him.
“In any club when there’s a change of manager there’s always excitement in terms of who is going to play and who gets a chance.
“But the manager has been fantastic for the whole squad. He’ll give everyone an opportunity and now we have to perform in training and matches.”
Ajer may not have worked under Lennon before but he’s hardly a stranger.
Having watched the manager play and boss Celtic while watching old matches on DVD and also facing his Hibs sides the Scandinavian had a fair idea of what to expect and hasn’t been left disappointed.
The players have also risen to the challenge and Ajer said: “Obviously, a lot of stuff has happened but the group has coped with that and the gaffer has come in and really helped us in terms of looking forward.
“The two wins we’ve had have shown the importance of that. John Kennedy has been here through everything we’ve done and he has seen it all.
“He helped the previous manager bring young players in and he did a fantastic job with that.
“But it was really important for him to explain to us after the manager left that we, the players, were the ones who had won those trophies and we had to show that in those games in Edinburgh that week.
“Of course I’d watched a lot of Celtic clips before I came here and I saw how he (Lennon) played and what he was like as a manager. I’m really looking forward to working with him and learning from him.”
Ajer accepts he could face extra responsibility under Lennon and relishes that prospect.
With Dedryck Boyata out of contract in the summer and set to leave and Filip Benkovic due to be reunited with Brendan Rodgers when he returns to Leicester after his loan spell the 20-year-old could be a
cornerstone for the backline going forward. However, Ajer is ready and said: “I’ve played a lot of games here now and it’s such a massive club.
“I’m developing in every game. I’ve grown a lot, not only ability wise but in terms of leadership and taking a role.
“I also have so many players to thank. We have a captain here, Scott Brown, who is unbelievable and has been fantastic throughout this change. There are leaders throughout this dressing room. It’s all part of a strong collective.”
That strong collective are keen to get going through the final two months of the term having had their breather.
Celtic have managed to rack up 11 straight domestic wins since the mid-winter break without a midweek off and with the schedule now set to ease Ajer says there’s more to come.
However, there has been no talk of trebles – just the next games. He said: “There are big games coming up throughout the season but we know Aberdeen are a really strong team and will make it difficult.
“It was really important to recharge the batteries. It has been a long time since we last had a free midweek so it was good to have a few days off and we’ll be refreshed by the time we play Aberdeen.
“The gaffer has kept things quite similar to what we’ve been used to. A few changes
have been made but nothing drastic, just things like how he wants us to build up.
“We just have to keep the form going and put in a strong performance.
“I have to be honest about the whole atmosphere in the dressing room in that we have been through this so many times.
“We have so many leaders who know if you get too carried away and start thinking too far ahead you start losing games.
“We need to think about Aberdeen then it’s on to Dundee.
“The next two games before the international break are huge and hopefully we can get two strong results.
“Then you have to sum things up after the season ends. It’s way too early to think if and what can happen.”
The gaffer has come in and really helped us in terms of going forward KRISTOFFER AJER HAILS JOB LENNY IS DOING