Rodgers is awestruck at job done by Lennon

BRENDAN Rodgers has backed Neil Lennon to lead Celtic to ten-in-row in a glowing appraisal of his Parkhead successor. Rodgers guided the club to the sixth and seventh titles in the sequence before controversially exiting for Leicester in February 2019.

He has since watched from afar as Lennon has thrived after stepping into the breach almost five years on from the end of his initial tenure.

Rodgers was particularly impressed by the way Celtic altered their approach to surge 13 points clear of Rangers after this year’s winter break.

That was enough to claim a ninth successive crown when the SPFL board this week called the Premiership season. And Rodgers doesn’t expect Lennon or his players to stop there as they aim to make history next term.

Reflecting on his own part in nine-in-a-row, the 47-year-old said: ‘Of course, circumstances changed for me during my time there, but I was involved in some unforgettable experiences and memories at Celtic and, to be part of this experience now, I’m very proud and privileged to have done so.

‘I look back to the time when I came in. Ronny (Deila) had just left, there was a bit concern about Rangers coming back into the league and they had beaten Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

‘But I felt from the moment we came together as a club, we were then able to then really push forward and lift a standard of mentality and play that saw us go on and succeed, and hopefully that can continue.

‘So to be a part of that process of the nine is obviously a huge honour for me and I’m pretty sure Neil will go on and finish the job that he started back then.

‘It’s what Celtic is about — it’s about winning, but it’s also about winning in a certain style.

‘The players have got real momentum now and they’re not going to let it go easy now.

‘They are winners, they know what it takes, they deal with the pressure and let’s hope it can continue for many more years.’

Rangers were just two points behind Celtic with a game in hand after winning at Parkhead on December 29.

A neck-and-neck title race appeared in prospect, but Lennon — aided by a switch to 3-5-2 — ensured the champions capitalised on every mistake made by their Ibrox rivals.

‘I’m absolutely delighted for Neil,’ Rodgers told the Celtic website. ‘He’s done absolutely first-class since he’s gone back in. He knew what he was coming in to but has still be able to add his own bit to it.

‘Then, when the pressure was on this season after the Christmas period, the team have really put their foot to the floor, changed the structure of the team and you can just see the confidence they were playing with right up until the break.

‘The consistency of the team has been absolutely brilliant and Neil has stayed calm and focused, even after the defeat to Rangers over the Christmas period.

‘They went away and did the work in Dubai, came back and hit an incredible run of form and just continued with the consistency, so I’m delighted for Neil, the staff and, of course, the players.

‘Celtic have been terrific, especially since the turn of the year. They’ve been the best team, consistently, and all the players, staff and people at the club have got their reward.’