Neil Lennon has set the tone for Celtic’s upcoming Europa League group stage campaign by suggesting that the Hoops can earn some “retribution” against CFR Cluj.
The Bhoys were drawn into Group E in Friday’s draw, alongside the Romanians, Lazio and Rennes.
And Lennon seems in buoyant mood ahead of the six game campaign that will give himself and the players a chance to right that recent wrong.
Lennon will have the players up for Cluj clash
You kind of hope the first group fixture is Cluj at home. The players will still be hurting badly from that dark night in Glasgow and also the way the Romanians conducted themselves both on and off the park during the tie.
They have been given a chance to put Dan Petrescu’s men in their place and they’ll want that opportunity as early as possible.
Cluj really weren’t a great side and their victory in the tie said more about us than them. We should have killed them off after a good result in Romania but our own deficiencies let them into the second leg where we fell apart at the seams.
If we get our tactics and performances spot on then six points against them isn’t inconceivable. Added to that, Lazio and Rennes are both beatable at home.
Both have decent pedigree but finished 8th and 10th in their respective domestic leagues last season. We must fancy our chances of taking them on, especially in Glasgow.
It’s an intriguing group for sure. But one that gives us a realistic chance of progression, presuming we get things right.
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