REALITY CZECH
Celts know a defeat in Prague will kill off Euro dream – so Lenny aims to go for it
Neil Lennon insists Celtic will go out all guns blazing in the last- chance saloon as they look for revenge for their Sparta Prague humiliation.
The Hoops boss admits only victory in the Czech capital will be enough to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the Europa League last 32.
A 4-1 Parkhead pounding by Sparta Prague has left Celtic rock-bottom of Group H with just one point at the halfway stage ahead of Thursday’s return fixture in the Letna Stadium.
And Lennon, faced with a daunting trip to the San Siro in their penultimate fixture, said: “A point isn’t any good and we don’t want to lose it, so we are going all out to win.
“We want to come away with the three points otherwise Europe is over for us.
“It is probably all or nothing and that’s a great incentive for us. We know we need to play a lot better than the home game.
“That night we weren’t very good defensively. If we win it gives us half a chance and keeps the group alive.
“We need to have a positive response after that last game to have any chance of qualifying.
“We need to try to win the next two games. We know it won’t be easy – but that’s our aim.
“We had a great performance in Lille but were hit by Covid and injuries for the Milan game. The Sparta match was so disappointing and it is something we want to rectify. Losing at home and being poor should motivate us to do better this time.
“We must respond in the right way – that means showing discipline, attacking and scoring if we can.”
December is shaping up to be a huge month with Celtic potentially playing nine games in four competitions – including the f inal of last season’s Scottish Cup – before a massive Old Firm clash at Ibrox to kick off 2021.
The Hoops boss said: “We have four competitions to play in between now and the end of the year.
“The squad is going to be pushed but there are also going to be opportunities for the depth of the squad to be used.
“We are not going to be able to pick the same 11 or 14 for every game and we will be looking forward to that challenge as a coaching staff.
“It’s exciting. We have a bit of work to do but plenty of time to find our form and consistency. The Sparta Prague
game was a spanner in the works before we split up but we left in a good form and we know what’s at stake this time out in the return leg.
“It’s game by game, that’s a lesson I have learned since coming back.
“You can’t look too far ahead, you negotiate every game as it comes. It’s a brilliant challenge.
“December is a huge month. It will be physical ly and mental ly demanding for the players but they wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Swiss striker Albian Ajeti is hoping to play a key role after a stop- start launch to his career north of the border following his £5million summer switch from West Ham.
The 23-year- old skipped duty with Switzerland last week to focus on his fitness and after binge-watching Prison Break amid the new Covid restrictions is hoping to be free of his fitness issues.
He said: “The worst thing (about lockdown) is that I’m already used to it. I spend most of my t i me at home watching movies. It is what it is.
“We have to accept it and be professional on and off the pitch.
“Most of us are already used to it. It is hard but you have to do it.
“I have watched a few movies and a few series. I have just started Prison Break again.
“It is good and it is long so it takes a little bit of time.
“I stayed at home during the international break and had some hard training days with the fitness coach and the other players.
“I was working specifically on my fitness because I started well when I came to Celtic but I was out for a couple of weeks with an injury. I came back but still lacked a bit of fitness so I had time to work on that.
“The 100 per cent fitness will come with each game but I’m feeling well.
“There’s a lot of things we can do better in the return game against Sparta Prague. We started well in the first match but there’s a lot of things to do better in Prague.
“We know our opponents and we’re even better prepared so while we lost the game at home we can go into this game with confidence.
“We believe we can progress.
“We know our qual ity and we played well in the games against AC Milan and Lille so anything is possible in this group.”
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