Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE ROMAN CONQUERORS
LAZIO ..... 1 CELTIC ..... 2
NEIL LENNON last night savoured a historic Celtic win and declared: ‘That will live with me forever’.
The Celtic manager was bursting with pride after a magnificent success over Lazio in the Olympic Stadium.
He said: “I’m so happy and so proud of the team, not just winning the game but the way they played the game
and the character and bravery they showed and real quality.
“This team keeps setting new boundaries for itself. It’s a historic night and the scenes at the end are something that will live with me forever.
“To come here and be as good as that and to have qualified after four games is unheard of for Celtic in Europe.
“It’s an amazing night for the team and the club. To beat Barcelona was a great achievement by that team and great for the club, but this is almost on a par. It’s just behind it.
“The performance pleased me more than anything. If we had drawn, I would have been delighted. But to cap it off with a brilliant goal is just special.
“James has again come up with a huge goal, the timing and the finish.
“He was brilliant and he’s such an important player for us this season as has been for the last 10 seasons.
“I fancied Oli to score. I’m delighted for him because he’s been in and around the team after his ankle injury.
“But he showed his class and has written his name in the history of the club with that goal.”
Lennon turned to the main stand where his partner Irene was celebrating with Rod Stewart at the winning goal amongst a 9,000strong travelling support who went crazy at Ntcham’s winner.
He smiled: “I had family and friends here in the stadium.
“When we scored at the end I was looking up to them and members of the board because I know what it means to them and everyone associated with the club.”