LENNON HAS A NOU
As Larsson joins Barcelona back-room staff, Celtic manager digs out his contact book
WITH Albian Ajeti joining Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Patryk Klimala at Celtic last week, Neil Lennon will have no shortage of quality options in attack as his side bid to win what would be a record-breaking Scottish title and make inroads in Europe this season.
It was no surprise when he dismissed suggestions that he was looking to bring in a fifth forward yesterday as he looked ahead to the Premiership encounter with Dundee United at Tannadice this evening. He will be well covered when injuries and suspensions arise.
But Lennon is hopeful that another world-famous striker – his legendary former team mate Henrik Larsson – can play his part in the Parkhead club achieving success at home and abroad in future.
New Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman yesterday added Larsson, who spent two memorable years as a player with the Catalan giants and helped them to win the Champions League, to his backroom at the Nou Camp.
Lennon believes his old pal’s presence at Barca could prove invaluable to both him and to Celtic.
“I have got a direct line in to Barcelona which might be very beneficial for us going forward,” he said. “It is great to have contacts around the game and people you have either played with or worked with before at clubs.
“It is a great move for Henrik. I am delighted for him. He has history there. It is a brilliant step forward for him in terms of the coaching side of things. It is an outstanding chapter for him in his career.
“Koeman is an excellent manager. Obviously Barcelona bringing him in speaks for itself. I am sure Henrik will learn a lot.”
Edouard, who scored a sublime individual effort in the second-half of the 6-0 win over KR Reykjavik in a Champions
League qualifier at Parkhead on Tuesday night, is held in just as high esteem as Larsson by Celtic supporters just now.
The Frenchman was the subject of heated exchange between Gordon Strachan and John Hartson during the coverage on Premier Sports. Strachan maintained he is a No.10. Hartson was adamant he is a No.9. No consensus could be reached and sparks flew between the fiery redheads.
So can their fellow ginger Lennon settle the argument? Not a chance. He is just thankful he still has the services of a player who has been linked with major clubs in England and across Europe in the past year or so and could be the subject of a multimillion pound bid or two before the transfer window closes in October.
“Odsonne’s a centre forward so he can play both,” he said. “People debate where he’s best. It depends who plays around him as well. One thing I do know is he’s an outstanding footballer and we’re delighted to have him whether he plays up front on his own or he plays in a two.
“His all-round game is fantastic and his goal the other night was simply brilliant. He is in a great place at the minute and I’m delighted that he’s fit and healthy and ready to go again.”
As are his team-mates after – due to their games against St Mirren and Aberdeen being postponed when it emerged that Boli Bolingoli had breached Covid-19 safety protocols – nearly a fortnight without a Premiership match.
Lennon is looking forward to returning to Tannadice, but is well aware the visitors will need to perform at their very best against the Championship champions who have, under their new manager Micky
Mellon, won two and drawn one of their top-flight games to date.
“United have made a pretty impressive start,” he said. “I think there’s an energy about them. They’ll be a good addition to the division, no question. They’ve got a good stadium, a good playing surface and they try and play. We’re expecting a good examination.
“Micky has come in and it seems to have been a seamless takeover. I played against him when I was at Crewe and he was at Blackpool on a number of occasions. He was a good player. He’s had a very good career in management. If you look at his stats, they’ve been excellent. He did a great job at Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and Tranmere.
“Dundee United are a big club with a great history. Tannadice is a great stadium and we’re very much looking forward to the freshness – different opposition and a different style of play.”
Lennon fielded a slightly different starting line-up against Reykjavik; Nir Bitton started at centre-half as Kristoffer Ajer was rested and Hatem Elhamed got the nod at right back ahead of Jeremie Frimpong.
He admitted their bright showings – Bitton limited the chances the visitors created and Elhamed set up two of the goals after powerful breaks upfield – have given him a welcome selection headache with a string of important games coming up.
“I was really pleased with the team, pleased with the boys who came in,” he said. “Have any of them done enough to keep their places? They might have done. They’ve been training really well so have earned the right to play. I was delighted with everyone.
“Obviously some players have still to hit their top form, but you’d expect that to come over the upcoming games. Tuesday was important to get 90 minutes and a good moral boosting win going into a tricky week.
“It had been a bit stop start so it’s good to get a little bit of momentum before the international break. Obviously there’s Dundee United, then Ferencvaros and Motherwell, so we’re looking forward to this week.
“We will go very strong on Saturday and we will be very strong on Wednesday as well. It is really good to get back to league and domestic duties. It has been a couple of weeks now since the Kilmarnock game and we really want to start hitting the ground running in the league.”
Henrik will learn a lot. It is a brilliant step forward for him