2003 loss that still rankles with Neil
FORMER Celtic boss Neil Lennon still remembers his last trip to Bayern Munich as the one that got away.
The current Hibs manager was part of Martin O’Neill’s Hoops side which travelled to the Bavarian capital on Champions League duty in 2003.
Celtic, who had lost in the final of the Uefa Cup the previous year in Seville, had been 1-0 up with 15 minutes to go but succumbed to a Roy Maakay double-whammy and lost 2-1.
Lennon said: “It was the year after Seville and we were playing really well. There wasn’t much in it between Bayern and ourselves that season – and we felt we should have made it out of that group.”
Celtic bounced back from a heavy defeat to PSG with a comprehensive win over Anderlecht but Lennon knows his old club faces a tough time tomorrow night.
He said: “The change of manager has given Bayern a lift – and the timing couldn’t be any worse, really, with them winning 5-0 on Sunday.
“But the way Celtic are playing, and with the win in Anderlecht, that will give them a huge boost.
“This is the reason why they’re in this tournament, to play these big teams. And, if you can’t beat them, then learn from them.”
Lennon was on hand at the induction of Celtic great John Clark into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
He said: “I’ve known John for 20 years. He’s very special to the club and very special to all the players. He had that aura about him. One, he was a Lion. And two, he’s a very good guy.
“He’s not as boisterous as some of them but is a big character in his own way. I love the guy.”