Dons going into battle with whole new beast

AFC: McInnes says Celtic are more intense and direct under Lennon

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes Celtic present a completely different challenge under Neil Lennon.

The Hoops clinched an eighth successive Scottish Premiership title with a 3-0 victory on their last visit to Pittodrie in May when Lennon was in caretaker charge following Brendan Rodgers’ move to Leicester City.

McInnes, below, has challenged his players to match the intensity of Lennon’s Celtic when the league leaders make the journey back to Pittodrie on Sunday.

He said: “There is still that confidence within the team, the same level of technician, the same level of player but Neil has put his own stamp upon the squad this year.

“Neil was on a hiding to nothing last year. He was obviously grateful for the opportunity to go back in but there is no doubt it was a real test for him to get the job done.

“Now he is getting the opportunity to take that team on and I think there are similarities with Brendan’s team. The same level of player is there and Celtic are used to playing a certain way.

“But I do think there is now a bit more tempo in Celtic’s possession work. It is the same aggressive work out of possession that Brendan had. They still try to put teams under pressure, and that for me is pretty similar.

“But in possession I would say Neil Lennon’s Celtic has a bit more intensity about it. There is still the thought process

there, and Brendan’s team aimed to out-think you and plotted a way up the pitch a lot of the time.

“But Neil will be quite happy to go and ask you a question and hit you right between the eyes.

“If you say ‘direct’ people automatically think that is smashing the ball forward. But I think this is more about forward passes and asking the questions of the opposition a bit quicker.

“Brendan’s Celtic team could still do that, but they probably mixed the game up a bit more.”

McInnes, however, is relieved that former Dons loan player Ryan Christie will miss the match against the Dons as he serves the second match of a twogame ban.

McInnes said: “I said to my staff at the start of the season that he could be Scotland’s player of the year this year.

“He just looks like he has grown into the position now of being an important Celtic player.”