Lennon: It won’t be easy
Celtic Hearts ScottishCupFinal,Today, 2.15pm
NEIL LENNON believes Hearts’ semi-final win over Hibernian will boost the Jambos in today’s Scottish Cup final.
Robbie Neilson’s side, who are top of the Championship, set up today’s Hampden Park showdown against Lennon’s Hoops with a 2-1 last-four win over their Premiership Edinburgh rivals in October.
Celtic beat the Gorgie side 2-1 in the 2019 final but Lennon believes the current Hearts team could now be in a better frame of mind for a revenge mission, thanks in part to their hardfought derby win.
Lennon said: “Maybe psychologically they are in a better place because it comes from winning, albeit they’re in the Championship.
“They had a great win in the semi-final against a very good Hibs team.
“They showed their mettle, that they can compete with some of the best teams in the Premiership. So maybe psychologically they are coming into the game with confidence and that’s off the back of winning games.
“We have a very good team to play against who will be highly motivated themselves.
“We won the last cup final against them and some of the players are still there and I am sure they will want to avenge that.
“They are packed full of Premiership players, or Premiership-talented players.
“So it’s not just a case of us turning up and winning the game.”
The Hoops have won nine successive Premiership titles and are aiming to win an unprecedented quadruple domestic treble.
Lennon believes a 40th Scottish Cup final win would give further encouragement to his side, who arrested a slump in form with successive wins over Lille in the Europa League and Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
The Northern Irishman said: “I think it would give us a real shot in the arm.”