Celtic manager Neil Lennon has said that Virgil van Dijk deserved FIFA’s Best Player of the Year award ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi based on the domestic and European performances last term. The Dutch defender helped Liverpool preserve the best defence across Europe’s top-five leagues last season and he was able to end the campaign on a high with the Reds winning the Champions League.
Belgium international Dedryck Boyata has said that he did not go on strike to force through an exit from Celtic last summer. The centre-back spent four years with the Scottish champions but he left them on a free transfer at the end of last season after opting against signing a new contract with the club.
Boyata has since signed for Hertha in the Bundesliga and he has now clarified that he wanted a fresh challenge away from the Hoops. Speaking to Record Sport, he told: “It’s not true, I was accused of strikes last summer so I could move. I also played through the season, was in the Scottish team of the year and played my part in the title. The truth is, I’ve won everything at Celtic in four years. But it was time to start something new.”
Continue reading “Dedryck Boyata explains the real reason behind Celtic departure”
The lack of competition within Scottish football is harming Celtic. And it’s time to talk about it.
In a league of one
A ninth successive league crown this season will see Celtic equal the record set by themselves in 1944 and Rangers in 1997. Achieving such consistency over a sustained period is a remarkable feat in itself. Continue reading “Time for Celtic to wave goodbye to Scottish football?”
Scottish champions Celtic have admitted that they were helpless in their attempt to keep hold of Kieran Tierney as the defender was keen on pursuing a bigger challenge elsewhere. The left-back was linked with a move to Arsenal since the beginning of the summer transfer window and the move eventually materialised before the English transfer deadline.
Celtic head coach Neil Lennon has indicated that Arsenal may walk away from the pursuit of Kieran Tierney after failing to reach a transfer agreement. The north London side recently made a renewed £25m bid for the Scotland international but the structure of the proposal has not gone well with the Hoops.
Speaking in a press conference, Lennon acknowledged that the Gunners have not come up with a third offer for the defender and there remains the strong chance that Tierney would remain with the club for the forthcoming campaign, he said:“It’s as you were really. I’ve had no information other than there were two bids that came in from Arsenal that were rejected. There has been no further inroads into that really.
Continue reading “Neil Lennon suggests Arsenal may have ended Kieran Tierney pursuit”
The agent of Kieran Tierney has said that Celtic will have the final say on whether his client remains at Parkhead beyond the summer. The Scotland international has racked 170 appearances since graduating through the club’s ranks but his immediate future with the club has come under doubt amid the transfer interest from Arsenal and Napoli.
Speaking to BBC Sport, agent Allan Preston said that the defender has affection for the Scottish champions but there will come a time whereby he will pursue a bigger challenge. When pressed on the speculation, he added that the player would only leave at the right price amid the supposed interest from Napoli and Arsenal.
Continue reading “Tierney’s agent opens up on defender’s future amid transfer interest”
Celtic’s assistant manager John Kennedy has said that he is unperturbed by the recent speculation linking Kieran Tierney with a move away from Parkhead. The Scotland international is widely regarded as one of the best attack-minded left-backs in Europe and his development has caught the eye of several European sides.
Former Celtic star Craig Beattie has urged the Hoops to consider the permanent signing of Neil Lennon following the club’s progress to the Scottish Cup final. The 47-year-old was appointed as the interim boss in February after the surprise departure of Brendan Rodgers and he has since impressed with six wins and two draws from the eight matches which have followed.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon praised his team after claiming a crucial victory over Dundee. Odsonne Edouard came up with a goal in the 96th minute of the match to beat Dundee and open up a 10-point advantage at the top of the SPL for Celtic. Lennon was extremely pleased with the victory as it took full advantage of the Rangers dropping points at home against Kilmarnock. There was expectation from Celtic about a comfortable victory in this match since Dundee have been struggling at the bottom end of the table for most of the season. The opponents were just one point ahead of the bottom coming into the match.
However, they put in a resolute defensive display and Celtic’s mediocre away form so far this season also started to rear the ugly head. Just when it seemed that Celtic were about to drop points for an eighth away match,Edouard was able to come up with this crucial goal. James Forrest was influential in helping Edouard get this going after playing a one-two in a tight spot. After the game, Lennon claimed that patience from the team was a key factor in getting this victory. Hearts and Kilmarnock were also defeated by Celtic in similar fashion, and Lennon is very happy to see the team going with belief until the final whistle.
Continue reading “Neil Lennon Pleased to See Patience Rewarded against Dundee”
Former Celtic manager Ronny Deila believes Brendan Rodgers should have stuck with Celtic rather than pursue the challenge with Leicester City. The Northern Irishman has won the treble with the Hoops in the past two seasons and he was on course to replicate the same this term before making the surprise switch to the east Midlands.
“I’m very sad for Celtic because he did an unbelievably good job. It’s important to have consistency at the club – especially Celtic who are going for ten in a row,” said Deila, who is now managing Valerenga in Norway. “I think he’s so good he could have managed a top four or five club down south straight from Celtic and not went to Leicester. I was surprised.”
With the departure of Rodgers, Celtic were quick to announce Neil Lennon as the interim boss for the campaign and they have since secured back-to-back triumphs over Hearts and Hibernian. As such, they are on course to secure the Scottish Premiership title for the eighth league title on the bounce with a six-point advantage over second-placed Rangers with 10 games remaining.
Elsewhere, Rodgers did not enjoy the best of beginnings with Leicester after they suffered a late 2-1 defeat against Watford on the road. For the current weekend, the Foxes are scheduled to entertain Fulham at the King Power Stadium and the match could offer Rodgers with a maiden triumph at the club, given the Cottagers’ poor defensive record over the course of the campaign.