Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish has been talking up the club’s chances of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive treble after Thursday’s shock European exit, speaking to The Sunday Post (01/03 print edition, Post Match supplement page 11).
As we know, the Hoops were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday to Copenhagen.
The round of 32 tie represented a fantastic chance for the squad to make it through a European knockout round for the first time since 2004, but sadly a series of defensive errors put paid to that.
Attention now fully turns to domestic matters, with a trip to St Johnstone on the cards this afternoon.
Dalglish has predicted that Celtic will turn that European exit into a positive and book a place in a Hampden semi-final, also declaring that it’ll take something very special to derail our treble bid.
As quoted by The Sunday Post (01/03 print edition, Post Match supplement page 11), he said: “To win the last 10 domestic trophies means you have a squad capable of overcoming many different challenges.
“That’s why I expect Celtic to see the defeat on Thursday night in a positive way and bounce back to go into the semi-final draw tonight. Anything other than that would be a major shock.
“The sights of everyone at Celtic will now be firmly set on making it four domestic Trebles-in-a-row. It will not be easy. But it will take a special team to stop them from cleaning up again.”
Lennon won’t let his Celtic squad look too far ahead
Understandably, amongst fans and perhaps pundits, the treble hype is going to hit overdrive if we are able to navigate our way past Tommy Wright’s side today.
However, knowing Lennon as the incredibly focused manager he is, there will be no internal chat of a treble within the Celtic dressing room.
The Celtic Park boss won’t even be thinking beyond today’s encounter nevermind a league title win or Scottish Cup success.
The key to Celtic’s incredible trophy run in recent seasons has been a laser-like focus on the immediate challenges, a lack of media crowing and keeping things on a very even keel until success is guaranteed.
Neither the Celtic squad nor Lennon have bought into their own hype.
Lennon will know that today, post-European exit, is a tricky test despite our excellent record against St Johnstone. He’ll let the talk of trebles fall to others.
How are you feeling about Celtic’s treble chances? Can a fourth successive treble really be done? Have your say below in our comments section…
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