TURNING DESIRE
I’m annoyed. I’m frustrated. We’re trying everything with the players and they’re feeling it... but can I turn it around? Of course I can
NEIL LENNON says he has complete faith that he can drag Celtic out of their shocking slump and save their season.
He’s less sure he will get the chance though.
The Hoops boss has been in the game long enough to know a run of two wins in 12 games – with 29 goals conceded – is enough to leave most gaffers in deep trouble.
He’s also well aware it’s more than enough to see a Celtic manager clearing his desk.
Lennon is determined to fight on though. Quitting hasn’t crossed his mind and the club’s board have told him they have his back. For now.
So Celtic will rumble on, while the title and the hopes of 10 in a row dim by the day.
The boss, who signed for Celts 20 years ago yesterday, is adamant things WILL pick up at Parkhead if he is given time.
Lennon said: “It will improve, I’ve no question of that.
“Can I turn it around? Yeah, of course I can. Will I get the time to do it?
“Well, I’ve already been told that the club are with me but it’s a results-driven business and at the minute the results aren’t what they should be.
“I’m annoyed. I’m frustrated. We’re trying everything with them. They are feeling it, there i s no question o f it , you can see that in their body language and their performances.
“We need to turn it around very, very quickly. They can do it, they’re capable of doing it.
“We need a spark from somewhere and we’re not getting that at the minute.
“I’ll continue to work as best I can. I’ve done nothing but try to bring success to the club.
“We’re going through a real bad period at the minute but we’ve been through bad periods before.”
Lennon stood firm after the game, he answered the now usual questions about his future and insisted he’s not hiding from the grim reality that’s set in around Celtic Park.
He admitted the display in the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone that further damaged their title hopes was another game where he didn’t get the reaction needed right now.
Lennon claimed the side don’t look themselves right now. Yet that’s the problem.
This has been the way this Celtic side has been for most of this season. The Hoops boss said: “It is huge ly concerning and I am n o t going to shy away from that. It is hugely concerning that we can’t keep a clean sheet, when we looked very comfortable in the game.
“We let people run in behind us and it’s not good enough.
“And it’s not good enough in the final third. We are taking far too long to work defences. It’s not like us at all.
“We thought we had the atmosphere right. They are just playing within themselves a little bit. I don’t know why because there is nobody here.
“There is no reason to get antsy or tentative. We want them to be positive but there is something missing, that little break or that little bit of magic.
“We are just not playing with that real drive and oomph. We are lacking that at the minute in a lot of our play.”
Celts are missing something and Lennon can see it as well.
He said: “We were flat. We lacked speed. We were tentative. And you know, we were playing far too slowly.
“We tried to change it at half-time, to get a bit more urgency in our play.
“And that’s what’s missing, a lack of urgency, a lack of penetration, and not working their goalkeeper enough.
“We had some good chances, but we need one of them to go in. Odsonne was in, Jullien had a header, but we are not creating enough chances.
“It is all a bit pedestrian for my liking.
“There is a lack of verve, we need more personality, more excitement in our play.
“Maybe sometimes you get that generated by the atmosphere, but we don’t have that just now. They’ve got that in them – look at the start they made on Thursday in Milan. But at the minute they are not playing anywhere near as well as they can.”
T h e alarm bells are even ringing for L e n n o n’s closest allies.
His former Hoops teammate Stil iyan Petrov was in the stands on media duties and was stunned at the lack of a response from the players in a period of intense pressure.
Petrov said: “The main disappointment would be the reaction of the players after the build up to the game.
“I wanted to see if there was a change and how much urgency they had in the second half.
“But if anything Saints grew in confidence. It was like they knew Celtic had no surprises.
“They got back late on but it was desperation. I was disappointed in the lack of urgency in the final third.
“We want to see players being aggressive and on the front foot. Are we seeing that? I don’t think so.
“St Johnstone came with a plan but Celtic didn’t have a plan B. It’s a concern.”