NEIL: WE CAN FINISH TOP OF THE PILE
RENNES v CELTIC There’s a great incentive to show people, your family and friends, how much you’ve come on and developed NEIL LENNON
FROM BACK PAGE feels his team are right in the mix.
Asked if the group was there to be won he said: “I think so. I wouldn’t say you could throw a blanket over the four teams but there is pretty much nothing in it for me.
“Every team will take points off each other as it goes on and I don’t really have an opinion on who the favourites are because I think you’ve got four really good teams.
“Cluj managed to knock us out of the Champions League so they cannot be discounted in the group. They have a different way of playing that is maybe not easy on the eye but it is effective and they will maybe give someone a bloody nose along the way.
“Rennes are second in Ligue 1 so their quality is obvious. They’re cup winners here and Lazio are a team of European pedigree and one of the best teams in Serie A.
“Ourselves, we’ve had great domestic success in the last three or four years in Scotland so for me the group is open and all teams will be looking to have a say.
“I’m not convinced who the favourites really are, although you could possibly say the pedigree’s with Lazio.”
Celtic face a tough opener in France but the away form in Europe since the start of the season offers cause for optimism.
Lennon’s men were undefeated in four away qualifiers in the Champions League and enjoyed three wins.
The manager said: “I wouldn’t say we passed those tests no bother but this is a step up again.
“We’re always looking to improve our away record in Europe and this is the next test for us. I’m delighted with the away form and then the icing on the cake was the qualification game in Stockholm when we were outstanding.
“I’m hoping to carry a bit more of
that into this game, although this is a really stiff examination. Rennes are a very slick side, technically proficient and well organised. “They’ve had some stellar results already this season beating PSG but it’s certainly a game that we feel we can maybe get something out of.”
Lennon, who is without the injured Jozo Simunovic, Mikey Johnston and Leigh Griffiths, said: “We want to play in their half at times and make them defend. They don’t score a barrelload of goals, but they’re very good at how they play the game.
“They are defensively solid, they get numbers back but there will be spells in the game when we are on top and we have to make the most of those spells.
“Obviously we’re away from home and that is always a disadvantage but we’ve got good European and international experience in the squad now and we hope that stands us in good stead.
“We’re very excited about being in the competition and about the quality of teams we’re going to play. There’s a lot of glamour and we’ve earned the right to be in there.
“We know how difficult a test this is going to be but it’s one we’re also looking forward to. We’ve given this game quite a bit of thought over the last few days, we’ve done a few things and the players are ready.”