MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 15:37:52| >> :120:68698:68698:

Neil Lennon admits European exit is "only disappointment" of Celtic season

Neil Lennon admits European exit is
© Reuters
The Hoops are 13 points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Neil Lennon admits Celtic's European exit is the only black mark on his side's 2020 form book.

The Hoops ended last year with defeat to Rangers but since then have been almost perfect domestically.

Eleven wins and one draw from their 12 Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures helped the Northern Irishman's team establish a commanding 13-point lead at the top of the table before the coronavirus crisis forced Scottish football into lockdown.

They carried on that merciless run as they marched into the last four of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
However, there was Europa League disappointment in the last 32 when Celtic suffered a surprise defeat at home to Copenhagen.

It is a result which still gnaws at Lennon but he is not looking to point fingers of blame at his players.

Reflecting on Celtic's form since returning from a winter break in Dubai, Lennon said: "What's pleased me has been the quality of our performances. Even if you look at our last game against St Mirren when we beat them 5-0.

"To do that at this stage of the season is pretty impressive because we were struggling to score goals this time last year, so the amount of goals we've scored and the amount of wins we've racked up is impressive.

"And since the turn of the year, to go unbeaten domestically and only drop two points is fantastic, and we reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup – we've already won the League Cup – so it just shows how well we've played.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths with match ball after scoring a hat-trick against St Mirren
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against St Mirren (Andrew Milligan/PA)

"You can't take that for granted, and we had the European campaign, on top of that. It's been pretty impressive, to say the least, from the players and I'm so proud of them.

"The only disappointment to me, really, was going out of Europe the way we did. That was really disappointing because we really felt we could make inroads into the competition."

Celtic have tallied up 10 points more than they managed at the 30-game mark last term, while they have scored an incredible 141 competitive goals across all competitions so far this season.

Lennon added: "That's absolutely brilliant and it's what we were looking for – myself, John Kennedy, Damien Duff and Stevie Woods – as a backroom team. We knew there were more goals in them. We train that way, to be positive and on the front foot.

"Our record for 2020 would stand up to any club in Europe or even throughout the world, and it's not the easiest thing to do because teams are set up to stop you scoring or try to nullify you in any way they can, so I can't ask any more of the players.

"During the winter break, we told them to hold on to the feeling of disappointment they had, and the response has been emphatic to the point where we're 13 points clear at the top of the table and in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

"So we've been really, really good in terms of consistency, and the mindset has been good as well.

"It's how I want to see Celtic playing. We're there to entertain the fans, and that's in the DNA of the club, so the players have responded in the right way, there's no question."

ID:394266: cacheID:394266:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6849:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic's Scott Brown reacts on February 27, 2020
Read Next:
Coronavirus latest: Scotland football stars urged to use social media influence
>
Read more about Neil Lennon Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Motherwell168172226-425
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd166642519624
6St Mirren176382228-621
7Dundee165472729-219
8Hibernian173682129-815
9Ross County173681333-2015
10St Johnstone1742112032-1214
11Kilmarnock163581734-1714
12Hearts163491825-713


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!