MX23RW : Saturday, May 4 01:33:24| >> :120:44646:44646:
[monks data]
Celtic logo
Scottish League Cup | Second Round
Aug 17, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Dunfermline Athletic

2-1

Johnston (55'), Forrest (114')
FT
(aet)
Beadling (77')

Neil Lennon: 'Celtic ready to bounce back from Champions League exit'

Neil Lennon: 'Celtic ready to bounce back from CL exit'
© Reuters
The Hoops exited the Champions League earlier this week.

Neil Lennon has detached himself from the "hysteria" over Celtic's Champions League exit and vowed to eradicate his team's slow starts.

The Scottish champions recovered from a half-time deficit against Cluj on Tuesday to lead twice before crashing to a 4-3 home defeat that consigned them to a Europa League play-off against AIK.

Lennon again stood by his decision to play Callum McGregor instead of £3million signing Boli Bolingoli at left-back and stick with Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic in central defence with £7million arrival Christopher Jullien on the bench.

And he feels his team did more than enough in the second half to win the game.

"I understand the environment, I understand the hysteria," said the 48-year-old ahead of Saturday's Betfred Cup tie against Dunfermline.

"It's just the modern-day phenomenon now. You have to take a step back from that and detach yourself from it.

"So when we win 7-0 and fives I'm not thinking I am the next big thing and when we lose I'm not too low about it. There has to be a sense of perspective on every performance and every game.

"We didn't deserve to lose the game. I'm not big on stats but we dominated possession and had 20-odd attempts on goal. As a manager you have to look at that and say maybe it just wasn't our night.

"We were rampant at 2-1 and just gave Cluj oxygen in the game. Some of the goals we lost were freakish to say the least.

"We have to get over the disappointment and look forward to Saturday and build on where we are.

"We are bullish about things, we still have a lot to play for. It's a setback but we are galvanised and reunited and we will go again."

Lennon referenced the second full season of his first spell in charge when Celtic trailed Rangers by 15 points before winning the league.

He added: "I have been in difficult situations as a Celtic manager before, in difficult situations as Hibernian manager before. I wouldn't say this is a difficult situation.

"It's a blow, it's a setback. But I have a fantastically talented group of players that I have a lot of gratitude for people giving me the opportunity to manage.

"I didn't think we played poorly, I didn't think we deserved to lose. But we did lose it, that's the reality and people can come back to me on that. But I have to look at the performance: first half below par, second half outstanding. So we have to marry the two."

Cluj – and Motherwell three days earlier – both caused Celtic early problems by pressing them in numbers deep inside their half.

And Lennon – whose side have lost the first goal on four occasions this season – has told his men not to be so intent on playing their way out of the trap.

"I wouldn't say it's a major concern because we have good character and bounce back very, very well but we would cause ourselves a lot less problems if we start the game as well as we finish them," he said.

"If teams are going to press, there is nothing wrong with turning them and flipping it and getting runners going forward.

"They are still sort of a little bit ingrained in the way they played before, and when teams are used to that they find it difficult to change.

"We have to vary our play a little bit if teams are coming at us."

Goalkeeper Scott Bain misses the visit of Dunfermline with a dislocated thumb while Simunovic and Mikey Johnston are fitness doubts.

ID:368297: cacheID:368297:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4756:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic manager Neil Lennon pictured on August 13, 2019
Read Next:
What Celtic's Champions League exit means for the club
>
Read more about Neil Lennon Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
5.30pm
Swiatek
Sabalenka
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1Ayr431010
2Stirling431010
3St Johnstone41033
4Stenhousemuir41033
5Alloa41033

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1Partick32107
2Falkirk32016
3Dundee Utd42026
4Spartans42026
5Peterhead40131

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1Livingston33009
2Hamilton22006
3Cove Rangers32016
4Brechin41033
5Clyde40040

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1Ross County33009
2Morton43019
3Kelty Hearts32016
4Stranraer41033
5Edinburgh40040

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1Airdrieonians440012
2Dundee43019
3Dumbarton31023
4Inverness41033
5Bonnyrigg Rose30030

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1Kilmarnock33009
2Dunfermline32016
3Raith Rovers22006
4Albion Rovers41033
5Annan40040

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
1Motherwell33009
2QotS22006
3Queen's Park41124
4East Fife31114
5Elgin40040

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
1St Mirren43019
2Forfar43019
3Arbroath31023
4Montrose31023
5Cowdenbeath20020


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!