Three matches without a win and Neil Lennon finds himself – in the eyes of some – under pressure at Celtic, such is the height of expectation when managing a club who have won the Scottish Premiership nine times in a row.
In the past both Celtic and Rangers have halted the other’s attempt to win 10 league titles in a row.
Rangers halted Celtic’s run of nine when winning the first division in 1974-75, and it was roles reversed come 1997-98 when Celtic stopped Rangers in their tracks on nine as well.
Now as Celtic chase that unprecedented 10th title this season, unsurprisingly it is Rangers who stand in their way, with an Old Firm derby win earlier this month handing the advantage to Steven Gerrard’s side.
Six points currently separate leaders Rangers – who have played a game more – and second-place Celtic, who after the 2-0 derby defeat then lost their Europa League group-stage opener to AC Milan before drawing 3-3 away at Aberdeen in the league.
Lennon: No justification to sack me
In Lennon’s opinion, two defeats in three games shows Celtic are “nowhere near” the sort of form that warrants his job coming under scrutiny, although their failure to reach the Champions League group stages for a third successive season is another blemish on their campaign to date.
He said: “This is being driven by people who are coming up with conspiracy theories about my role and what I bring to the club.
“Nobody sees what I do on the training ground, I’m here from 8.30am until six at night. When you go through a tough spell, you hear the theories about fallouts on the training ground etc, but it’s all fake news – I sound like Donald Trump now. I shouldn’t have to defend myself and don’t feel under any major pressure.
“There is no justification for me to be sacked, none whatsoever.”
Lennon has the backing of Sir Kenny Dalglish too, with the Celtic and Liverpool legend insisting the right man is in place to help deliver a 10th title.
“He’s proven himself many times,” Dalglish told BBC Sport Scotland. “He won’t deliver 10-in-a-row himself in isolation, he needs a lot of help from a lot of players. But for me, whether it’s 10-in-a-row or it’s not, he’s still the man who deserves to be in charge.
“It happened last year, Rangers were top at Christmas, then a complete turnaround and Celtic ran away with it.”
Duffy criticism ‘hysterical’
Lennon went on to urge a minority of Celtic fans to show some patience and allow some players to “settle” at the club.
Shane Duffy has been singled out for criticism since joining on a season-long loan from Brighton, and the Lennon is far from happy with the defender being targeted by “certain quarters of the media”.
Partick Thistle defender Richard Foster told Sky Sports that Celtic’s defence was their biggest weakness, and suggested Duffy needs to be dropped to help them look more solid.
In response to such calls, Lennon said: “Players getting singled out and abused, it is absolutely shocking. If that’s the way of the modern world. I am glad I am not a player any more.
“Shane needs to find his feet. He has had a bumpy week, nothing more nothing less. It happens. I am not happy with the treatment he is getting from certain quarters of the media.
“I think it is hysterical. He is a quality player. The personal, banging the drum with certain players is unacceptable. He made a mistake, he shouldn’t be hung out to dry for it. He has my full support, he has the team’s full support.
“There is a clear lack of respect for the players, management and backroom staff at the minute because of one bad week.”
Are there defensive frailties?
Celtic have played 16 games since the season started in August, in which they have conceded 15 times.
The biggest worry will be the fact that eight of those goals have come in the last three games, albeit against strong opposition in the form of Rangers and Milan, as well as fourth-placed Aberdeen.
Injuries have also hampered Celtic at the back, with Christopher Jullien absent for the past month due to a back injury, while first-choice goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas had a similar problem when sitting out the 3-3 Aberdeen draw.
Hatem Abd Elhamed has also been sidelined due to coronavirus, but with the trio only short-term concerns Lennon will be confident his side can return to the form that saw them pick up eight clean sheets prior to this three-game winless run.
The relentlessness of the current campaign means Celtic have little time to dwell on their bad results, and following a trip to Lille on Thursday they are in Scottish Cup semi-final action against Aberdeen on Sunday.
That is technically a match from last season, and should they come through that test and then win the final against either Hearts or Hibernian, it would hand Celtic the quadruple treble – a 12th domestic trophy in four seasons.
Yet more silverware would help Lennon silence the naysayers in the best way possible.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3oBvv3W
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