LENNY GIVE US SOME RESPECT
CELTIC v CLUJ
NEIL LENNON insists Spurs’ seven-goal battering by Bayern Munich is proof Celtic and Scottish football deserve more respect.
The Parkhead manager digested the disaster suffered by last term’s Champions League finalists at the hands of the Germans and reckons it should bring a sense of realism to the critics.
Celtic were slaughtered by
snipers from south of the border and their own soil after losing 7-0 to Barcelona and 7-1 to PSG during the reign of Brendan Rodgers.
However, after Mauricio Pochettino’s men were humbled 7-2 by magical Munich on their own London patch, Lennon feels it should bring a dose of perspective.
Ahead of tonight’s Europa League showdown against CFR Cluj the boss said: “Does a result like that surprise you? Of course. But it can happen.
“When you are coming up against that type of quality and they get their dander up, sometimes mentally it can deflate you and it looked like that happened to Spurs.
“They were also punished by ruthless finishing. It just shows you it can happen to the best of teams.
“It’s more from England that they look down on the Scottish game.
“But we have produced and are producing good teams and good individuals who have gone on to do great things in the Premier League.
“You don’t take a view from England as they don’t see the game week in and week out but sometimes people up here jump on the bandwagon and really let themselves down.
“It can happen. I don’t want that to happen to us (against Cluj) and I’d like to think it could be a reversal and we could score goals and make it difficult for any opposition at Celtic Park.”
Performances of Celtic and Rangers in the past 15 months on the continent have lifted Scotland’s standing in the UEFA rankings and just two more Europa League wins for both Old Firm sides would see the placing at its highest since 2008.
Lennon said: “Our game is slowly but surely making its way back up in terms of European progress. Both of the big teams up here have done well over the past couple of seasons.
“I don’t know what the expectations are but I would like us to be able to be strong enough to compete for qualification from this group.
“European football is important and it gives you that bit of gravitas.”
Lennon’s next chance to boost the ranking further comes with tonight’s showdown against the Romanians.
Celtic were hurt as Dan Petrescu’s side knocked them out the Champions League but the Scottish champions started their Europa campaign with a good point away against Rennes and can go top of Group E with a triumph.
Lennon said: “I was pleased to get Cluj again because it was a quick opportunity to right a wrong.
“I don’t really look at it negatively or positively. You just have to put a perspective on it and look at what you’ve got in front of you. Gradually we’re improving and it has been steady and really good progress since then.
“So I’ve been delighted with the reaction.
“I don’t want to build it up as a revenge game. The important thing is we play well and maximise the home advantage.
“We got off to a really good start with the point in Rennes and if you want to qualify you have to win your home games.
“Cluj are a good side and that has been underestimated. They ran Slavia Prague close in the qualifier and they’ve beaten Lazio.”
Nir Bitton should return to the squad after a hamstring injury but Tom Rogic (knee) and Mikey Johnston (groin) are doubts for the Hoops.