Neil Lennon has stated that he forced his players to do something yesterday that he hasn’t demanded in “a long, long time”, as he forced them to watch a re-run of Thursday night.
Celtic’s 4-1 loss at home to Sparta Prague has left the club in a state of embarrassment. The Hoops have now lost their last three home games as well as their previous three home matches in European football – a stat that goes against what the club prides itself in.
It’s been a while since the term “Fortress Parkhead” has been used in connection with Celtic Park, with far too many sides rocking up and taking the points in convincing fashion.
However, a now under-pressure Lennon had admitted that he forced the players to watch their game back against Prague in the hope that players could clear the air over what went wrong.
As quoted by the Daily Record, Lennon said: “We had a meeting on Saturday and went through the game again, which is something I haven’t done for a long long time. I wanted them to see it. We got a few points across that we wanted to make.
“We have to show a much better attitude and apply ourselves a lot better in games. Because the level of performance on Thursday was unacceptable. We went through the game and then at the end the players had their say too. They are clear now on what is required.
“I sensed I’ll get the response I’m looking for. I know what I’ve got in there. We’ve got to stay on point. We had a great season last year – and we have plateaued a bit. But there is more to come from this team and hopefully that will start on Sunday.”
We can’t keep resetting the season every three games
Lennon’s comments are what you would expect from a manager who urgently needs a response from his players. Considering the pressure he’s under, he’s never going to predict anything other than a strong reaction from his group.
But we’ve been here so many times over the course of the last three weeks alone. The season was meant to reset against Aberdeen two weeks ago, then again against the Dons last weekend. Now, we’re having the exact same feeling as we desperately search for three points at Fir Park.
This time, of course, it really must happen. Celtic have Motherwell away today followed by a trip to Easter Road after the international break. If the season doesn’t get back on track in those two games, then you have to wonder if that’s when the board will act to try and save the season.
Let’s not gloss over how things are, because the performances don’t deserve that. We’re in a critical place as far as our season goes and the Christmas decorations haven’t even been dug out yet. Some of us may yet to have even bothered putting the Halloween stuff back up the loft either!
It’s undoubted that the anxiety over this season’s importance is having an effect on the pressure the manager is under. Had this been any other campaign where the shadow of 10-in-a-row wasn’t present, Lennon would be getting more time. But nine years of hard work has gone into this very moment, and the players can’t afford to just let it fizz away.
So we’ll see this afternoon at Fir Park just how much the players have taken away from their meeting yesterday. But you still get the feeling it’s going to take more than a sit-down chat to rid this football club of the demons that plagues it just now.
In other news, Lennon has moved to draw a line under a ridiculous off-field matter.
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