Lenny: We will take our home form Rome
PARKHEAD FAITH HEALERS
NEIL LENNON has urged his Celtic side to take their domestic form into Europe and get a result in Rome.
Boss Lenny watched holders Hoops reach the Betfred Cup Final by hammering Hibs 5-2 in Saturday’s Hampden semi.
Now his focus is on Thursday’s Europa League trip to Italy to face Lazio.
Celts top their group after the 2-1 home win over Simone Inzaghi’s side but Lennon knows Lazio will be
FRoM BacK Page a tougher proposition on their own patch in the Stadio Olimpico.
He believes, though, if his side can maintain the kind of form they showed against Hibs they’ve got a real chance in Rome.
Lennon said: “It’s a chance, it’s a challenge.
“Do we believe we can win the game? Yeah but we know how difficult it’s going to be.
“We also think we can get beaten. We have had a good look at Lazio, they’re a great side.
“It was a great game to come out of the other side of but we did have tough moments and that will be the case on Thursday.
“They had a couple of great wins in Serie A recently against Torino and at Fiorentina so they’re a class side.
“But we’re looking forward to it. The players have earned the right.
“We know if we win or get a positive result we take another huge step towards qualification.
“The players got a huge shot in the arm from beating Lazio confidencewise and belief-wise.
“We have seven points in the group and that’s a fantastic start.
“We know we might possibly not get another one but we don’t just want to settle for domestic dominance.
“We want to really make inroads into Europe as well. But we know how big a challenge that is.
“To keep enhancing the club’s reputation and their own reputation, it’s important that we make a fist of it in Europe. “The players have done that so far. But we have to do it without taking our eye off the ball with what we want to do here in Scotland – which is pretty important.”
Celtic made it 30 cup ties in a row unbeaten at the weekend and the performance of his players, including Odsonne Edouard who didn’t get on the scoresheet, had gaffer Lennon purring.
He added: “I’m proud of them all.
“The new guys coming in have settled in brilliantly now, the players who have been here, whether it be myself first time, Ronny (Deila) or Brendan (Rodgers), I’m proud of them all. They’re a brilliant group.
“They have done some special things and have the capability to go on and do even more special things.
“I’m really enjoying managing them, they’re a brilliant bunch.
“We’ll have a few dips along the way but in the main they’re in a really good place at the minute.
“Edouard is a joy to watch. He just comes to life all of a sudden, he has that laconic style then just bursts into life.
“He has these beautiful feet where he just dances past people. He picked the right pass, he was unlucky not to score himself. He led the line brilliantly.
“At 21 he is fantastic to watch and he must be fantastic to play with.
“He’s shown that for a long time, his all-round game is getting better and better. And he has added a volume of goals this season.”