ICE AND EASY AS HOOPS CRUISE INTO NEXT ROUND
Moi’s the main man as Hoops crush Icelandic champions
NEIL LENNON hailed ruthless Celtic after they hit KR Reykjavik for six on their return to action in the Champions League qualifiers.
The Hoops showed no signs of rustiness after having two Premiership games postponed after full-back Boli Bolingoli broke Covid-19 rules.
Moi Elyounoussi got them off to a flier before an Arnor Adalsteinsson own goal and Christopher Jullien
header had them coasting. Greg Taylor and Odsonne Edouard struck after the break before Elyounoussi sealed the rout late on.
Lennon’s side now host Djurgardens or Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round and the Parkhead boss praised his players for not letting up.
He said: “The amount of chances we created was pleasing. We could have declared at four or five but we kept going right to the end.
“I’m delighted with the result and the goals we scored to get us up and going. This will do the players a world of good.”
Norwegian winger Elyounoussi was delighted to get off the mark for the season.
He said: “It was as we wanted. Good start, good goals, clean sheet, we played well.
“It’s always nice to score goals and help the team to win, so it was very pleasing.”
Gaffer Lennon was also pleased with man-of-thematch Elyounoussi’s contribution.
He said: “Moi had a really good game and got stronger as the match went on. He is a very fit lad, he sort of wears people down.”
New Bhoy Albian Ajeti came off the bench for a second-half debut and it was also a big night for left-back Taylor as he grabbed his first goal for the club.
Lennon said: “I’m very pleased for Greg and it was a great ball for Elhamed.
“Hatem was very good, strong. Nir Bitton was good and Olivier Ntcham also came on and had a good game.
“There are lots of positives to take.”
The Swedish or Hungarian champions will be a big step up from the KR and Lennon added: “They are both good teams. Ferencvaros are very well organised while Swedish teams are well up on fitness levels.”