Neil Lennon’s comment on Celtic striker Patryk Klimala raises more questions than answers

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I know, I’m getting sick of going over that horror-show at Parkhead the other night too, but there’s one remark that I just can’t let slip.

Neil Lennon came out and dropped a few bombshells post-match. He certainly didn’t miss a single soul as he shockingly revealed that some Celtic stars have been trying to work their ticket out of the club over the last six months (The Herald).

However, as well as calling certain players out (albeit not directly), Lennon also had to answer for his own failings. Losing 2-1 at home to Ferencvaros in the second qualifying round of the Champions League is bad enough. To do it without playing a striker for 75 minutes is even more comical.

The manager was always going to have to explain himself post-match, and he tried. I say tried because he certainly didn’t succeed.

We were all supposed to look like idiots when Lennon provided his reasons for not starting Patryk Klimala or Albian Ajeti. As quoted by the Glasgow Times, the Celtic boss said the following:

“They are not quite match fit yet. It’s quite obvious, otherwise at least one of them would be playing. I want to play with strikers.”

Lennon’s answer makes absolutely no sense

“It’s quite obvious”. That’s a little dig at those questioning him by the way. But I as a supporter will make no apologies for expecting a striker who has worked tirelessly through lockdown and had a full pre-season under his belt to be fit well into the start of the campaign.

Sure, we all know why Ajeti didn’t start. He hasn’t had a proper pre-season and blah blah blah. But Klimala? Come on Neil. This is a man who has now made four substitute appearances this season (Transfermarkt). That’s not even including the lengthy match time he got in pre-season against the likes of Nice and Hibernian respectively.

If he isn’t match-fit, and god knows how that could be the case, surely there’s only one way to build that up. Exactly – play him.

Is it really outwith Klimala’s, and Ajeti’s for that matter, fitness levels to play a half of football each? Do they turn into god awful footballers just because they aren’t 100% sharp?

We needed something to hit up top against Ferencvaros last night and it was sitting on our bench in Klimala.

It’ll be even more sickening if he plays against Motherwell on Sunday. Does he suddenly become match-fit within the space of four days?  These comments have boxed Lennon into a corner, and have thrown the spotlight firmly onto Klimala and why he isn’t fit despite all of his hard work.

Then again, I’m forgetting the fact that Klimala only signed in January for the paltry sum of £3.5m (Scottish Sun). It usually takes about 10 months for any new Celtic signing to be up to speed. Or at least that’s how it’s beginning to feel.

Lennon has so much to answer for. Yes we’ll back him so long as he remains in the post and especially ahead of such a crucial campaign, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to criticism.

Trying to defend mind-boggling decisions with even more mind-boggling answers makes holding the manager to account even more important.

In other news, one Celtic-linked striker appears to be set for a £10m transfer elsewhere.