Lennon: Criticism of Celtic borders on hysteria

DE F I A N T Nei l Len non has launched a bullish defence of his under-fire side as he insisted crit icism a i med at Celt ic has bordered on “hysteria”.

Critics have rounded on the Hoops boss and his team since they were dumped out of the Champions League by Romanians Cluj last week.

The flak intensified after it took extra-time and a deflected James Forrest strike to see off Championship side Dunfermline in the Betfred Cup on Saturday.

However, Lennon has hit out at those rushing to write Celtic off and believes his side can restore their European prestige by fighting past AIK Stockholm to reach the Europa League group stages.

Ahead of hosting the Swedes tonight, the Northern Irishman called for calm, saying: “It’s not me that is creating the headlines or shouting out the criticism.

“I’m very supportive of the players and was after Cluj and Dunfermline. We’ve lost one game – I didn’t believe we deserved to and that’s the harsh realities of the game.

“We’re fine. We’re absolutely fine. It’s like everyone out there is head down. We’re not. We’re bullish and looking forward to the games. There has to be a sense of perspective.

“I can’t control that but there has been a little bit of hysteria at times. That is the environment you’re in in Glasgow sometimes.

“We’ve lost one game and scored three goals in it, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

“The Europa League is a very good competition that, hopefully, we can prosper in.”

Liverpool attacker Ryan Kent spent last season on loan at Rangers.