Celtic manager Neil Lennon has once again had to come out and explain why he isn’t playing Albian Ajeti or Patryk Klimala from the start.
For the second game in a row, the Hoops boss has fielded a team without a recognised striker. Indeed, today’s starting XI vs Motherwell once again saw Ryan Christie start the match up top.
It follows last Wednesday night’s 2-1 defeat in the Champions League second qualifying round against Ferencvaros. Lennon chose not to field a recognised striker in that one either.
However, despite coming under pressure to play a forward this afternoon, Lennon has decided against it. Explaining his decision in an interview with the BBC (30/08, 14:42), the Celtic manager said the following:
“They’re not fit. Ajeti’s not fit and Klimala’s not match fit. People will say he’s not going to get match fit unless you play him and that is true, but I think he’s still a work in progress at the minute.
“We didn’t lose the game because we played Ryan Christie at centre forward, but people want to keep beating that drum and it’s nonsense really.”
Bonner disagrees with Lennon assessment
Pat Bonner spoke earlier on in the build-up to the game about the decision not to start with a striker once again (BBC, 30/08, 14:12). The BBC Sportsound pundit and former Celtic goalkeeper said: “It is remarkable that Neil Lennon again goes without a striker and leaves two on the bench. The question marks remain about the striker position – what is going on in the mind of the two left out? The only way they are going to get match fit is to play them.”
It’s certainly a brave decision from Lennon here. In fairness to him, he’s most definitely sticking by his alibi from last week when he originally stated that both Ajeti and Klimala weren’t fit.
And make no mistake, Celtic should still get the job done this afternoon. Not playing a centre-forward shouldn’t be the difference between Celtic beating or losing to Motherwell at Parkhead. But it doesn’t do much for the general happiness amongst the supporters.
Hopefully, unlike Wednesday night, we see both Ajeti and Klimala in action as soon as possible this afternoon. The only way to build up their fitness is to give them some minutes.
Yet what’s going in both player’s minds shouldn’t be too much of a concern. Lennon will have had conversations with both Ajeti and Klimala about why they aren’t featuring from the start. It’s not as if he’s going to just be leaving them wondering.
And after a generally frustrating first half against Motherwell, hopefully Lennon will soon turn to his front-men in a bid to create more chances.
In other news, the Celtic supporters had their say on the starting XI pre-match.
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