NEIL LENNON was involved in what he described as a “bizarre” press conference ahead of Celtic’s Champions League Group G clash with Spartak Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium tonight.
At the club’s hotel in Moscow a local journalist, in the most offbeat way, engaged the bemused Parkhead boss in discussion about various topics including Rangers, Seán Connery and former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady, who now plies his trade for the Russian outfit, before a Uefa official eventually stepped in to prevent it all becoming too silly.
The Northern Irishman posted on his Twitter account afterwards “Well that was one of the more bizarre press conferences I’ve had to do.” Lennon was asked if he would help Old Firm rivals Rangers, who relaunched in the Third Division this season after descending into administration, if he had €100 million to spend.
The former Celtic skipper jokingly responded: “Would I help Rangers? If I had that money you wouldn’t see me again, I would be in Las Vegas or somewhere like that! I have no idea how I would spend the money, I would invest it in the club and team and keep a little for myself.”
Lennon was also asked, on the theme of benevolent club presidents and owners, if he would approach Seán Connery if Celtic had any financial problems.
Almost incredulous at the random link between the Scottish actor and the Parkhead club, he replied: “You’ve done your homework, haven’t you? We don’t see us having too many financial problems. The club is run very well and we have to work within our means.
“We don’t have the finances of English clubs or a super-rich owner who is quite happy to plough loads of money in. We run the club as a business, we have a budget and a strategy set and we work within that and it has been very successful for us in terms of building a team for the future – but if you have Seán Connery’s number I will take it off you.”
Lennon – who at one point asked the Uefa interpreter of his Russian inquisitor, “is he a real journalist?” – was asked if a monument should be built in honour of McGeady for earning the Parkhead club a reported €11 million when he joined Spartak in 2010.
“A statue?” said the Celtic manager. “You need to do a little bit more at a club like ours to get a statue. Only people like Jock Stein and the great Jimmy Johnstone are worthy of that so far. Aiden is a tremendous player, very talented and definitely one to watch tomorrow and I’m sure he will be even more motivated than usual against his old club. He was a great servant to Celtic and is still held in high esteem at the club. In terms of bringing in players for the money, it was around about eight to 10, I couldn’t tell you the exact number. We had a rebuilding job to do with the squad and we managed to do that.”
Lennon made clear he was not being disparaging in any way towards his former team-mate.
“He has improved since his days at Celtic,” he said. “In the games I have watched Spartak play, Aiden has probably been their best attacking player. He looks in good condition. We all know how good he is on the ball but his movement off the ball is excellent. He covers the ground very quickly and he will be a threat.”
Adam Matthews is a doubt for the game. The Wales right back missed Saturday’s Premier League win over Motherwell after injuring his ankle. Matthews travelled to Moscow with his foot in a protective cast. Striker Lassad Nouioui is definitely out with a calf injury.
