Celtic manager Neil Lennon reveals his Euro mission

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has stated that the club has big European ambitions under him.

The Hoops failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second year in-a-row this season. The Cluj fiasco cost us just 12 months after being similarly knocked out by AEK Athens.

In addition to that, Celtic’s home record in Europe has taken a battering. Over the last year alone, Celtic have failed to beat RB Salzburg, Athens, Valencia, and Cluj at Parkhead respectively. We were also pegged back by Bosnian Champions Sarajevo before nicking it late on, albeit with the tie already won.

Lenny, however, has started the Europa League campaign in fine form with four points from two games. With Lazio coming up, Lennon told the Celtic View (Volume 55, Issue 14, Pages 4-6) that his goal is to enhance the Hoops in Europe.

“We’ll all look forward to it (Lazio). From a European point of view, our form has been absolutely excellent so far without getting carried away.

“The Europa League, perhaps with the amount of money swirling about down south, maybe doesn’t hold that much prestige but for a lot of other countries, and big countries in Europe, it is still a prestigious competition.

“For us, with the history that we’ve had in Europe since the Lisbon Lions, I think the fans crave it and it’s important when players come here, to not only do well domestically, but also enhance the club’s reputation in Europe. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Does Europe truly come secondary for Celtic fans?

Lennon is quite right to have European success on his agenda. After all, Celtic fans still demand that we show up well on the continent.

However, of primary importance, at least for the next two years, surely has to be domestic matters. Sure, there’s something sexier about putting European foes to the sword. Knocking off the likes of RB Leipzig, Cluj, and Rosenborg have a more unique factor to it that domestic matters struggle to contain.

But if Celtic lose any of the next two league titles, sections of the support won’t ever forgive the club. It really is of primary importance that we continue our domestic dominance until the 10 is won. If it isn’t, it won’t matter what the club do in Europe, their holy grail will be lost.

Neil’s plans are exciting here of course. Celtic fans are still seriously after European success to wash down with their domination of Scottish football. But if you give fans a choice? The majority would choose to boss Rangers for two more years.

That doesn’t mean poor displays in Europe should just be accepted. Despite his undoubted domestic success, one of the main gripes with fans towards Brendan Rodgers is that his side were often humiliated in European football.

Too many half-decent sides were coming to Parkhead and wiping the floor with us. Hopefully, that changes under Lenny. But if it doesn’t? Domestic success will continue to suffice for now.