EXPECTATIONS

Celtic will be going into the new season with a lot of expectations especially after their brilliant campaign last time around. They managed to win a Scottish double after a long time, while also making it into the knockout stages of the Champions League. Manager Neil Lennon is aware that expectations are high going into the new season, but he is still remaining calm. Unlike in previous seasons, Lennon has said that he is not nervous like last season. Celtic were going into the new campaign last time around with a lot of nervousness in order to get into the Champions League group stages.

Even though they only recently faced such a similar qualifying match, Lennon has said that they are achievements of last season has enabled them to relax a little. Prior to last season, Celtic were not seen in this stage of the competition for four years. There was a lot of speculation that Lennon could leave Celtic for Premier league outfit Everton, but he has decided to stay at the Scottish club for the time being. For now, his thoughts will be on replacing star striker Gary Hooper, who was recently sold to Norwich city.

Hooper has been one of the best players for Celtic over the last few years and his presence will be sorely missed according to Lennon.

“I’ve been to hell and back in the last seven weeks trying to get this right. There is a fear factor and I lived with that. I’ve been thinking of the ramifications if we don’t go through, what it would mean for me, how I’d get through it and how I would get over it. I’m not as bad but I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. I quite like it when I’m a bit on edge,” said Lennon.

LENNON SHOULD STAY

Former Celtic player Bertie Auld has said that manager Neil Lennon should resist any advances from Premier league outfit Everton for the vacant managerial job. Everton manager David Moyes will be taking over at Manchester United from Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer. This would leave a vacant job at Goodison Park for the first time in 11 years. Several high profile names have been linked with the job including Celtic manager Neil Lennon, but Auld reckons that Lennon should spend at least a couple of years more at Celtic Park because he has not completed the formative years of his managerial career.

Celtic will be taking on Hibs in the Scottish cup final after the end of the Premier league season. Celtic have already won the Scottish Premier league and winning the Scottish cup will be special for Lennon because it would have helped him achieve a rare double. Due to his exploits with Celtic over the years, Lennon has been strongly linked with a move to Everton along with the likes of Michael Laudrup and Malky Mackay. The 41-year-old, though, has not come out with a statement denying the rumours, which has increased speculation that he may leave the club at the end of the season.

“Neil Lennon is just a young boy and has a lot to learn. I think he has done a good job. He has done extremely well since taking charge. But I have to say I am disappointed that we have dropped 35 points in the league this season. Celtic have got a squad of players which should have run away with the league but didn’t really. We are 13 points clear at the top with one game left, but it was disappointing to see us lose to the teams that we did,” said Auld.

HOOPER SHOULD COMMIT

The Celtic manager Neil Lennon has said that he wants the star striker Gary Hooper to commit his future to the Scottish club despite interest from several clubs across England. The player has only 18 months left on his current deal and he came extremely close to joining Norwich city in the January transfer window. Celtic rejected up to 4 bids from the Premier league club, while the likes of Tottenham are also reported to be monitoring the situation. The Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that the club has given a new contract to the player, but he is yet to sign it.

Celtic are aware of the fact that Hooper’s transfer value will be substantially less in the summer due to the fact that he will have only 12 months remaining on his contract. Lennon has said that the player still has a lot to offer for Celtic before moving onto pastures new. The former Scunthorpe United striker has been one of the important players for Celtic this season. Lennon refused to sell the player in January partly because of the lack of time to bring in a replacement. Further, they will be having important matches against the likes of Juventus in the coming months.

“I will need to speak to Peter Lawwell about it but the contract is still there. My advice to Gary would be to sign it. Whether he wanted to go now or in the summer. If the money is there in front of you from Celtic then take it. We had a chat with Gary in Marbella and he said: ‘Look, I want to stay’. We will look at his position in the summer. I don’t want to stop his progression, but we feel he has still got a lot to offer here before he moves on,” said Lennon.