Celtic vs Barcelona preview - Lennon seeks memorable anniversary - 7M sport

Celtic vs Barcelona preview - Lennon seeks memorable anniversary



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Posted Wednesday, November 07, 2012 by PA

Manager Neil Lennon hopes to give Celtic fans an anniversary present to remember against Barcelona.

Celtic have celebrated their 125th year as Parkhead prepares to host the Catalan giants for a keenly-awaited Champions League Group G encounter.

But Lennon knows it will be no easy task in overcoming their star-studded opponents, who are top of the group with nine points from three games, including a 2-1 home win over the Scottish champions last month.

"It is a great occasion for the club, our anniversary and something we are very proud of," Lennon said. "I think it will be a very special evening.

"One, being in the Champions League, two, playing against arguably the best team in the world and three, the anniversary of our club. It is a pivotal year for us, one of celebration.

"How do you solve a problem like Barcelona? You have to play at your very best, you have to be fully concentrated with great intensity and sometimes even then that is not enough.

"But certainly with a full house I am sure the neutrals will enjoy the atmosphere and the energy that our supporters bring and it should be a great night for the club.

"I am hoping that the players do themselves justice on the night."

Lennon still appeared to be upset by the criticism his side received in some quarters following their defeat in the Nou Camp last month.

Former Barcelona star Bernd Schuster claimed that Celtic should not even be allowed to compete in the same competition as Barca, while Rayo Vallecano boss Paco Jemez was quoted as saying he would be ashamed to adopt the tactics employed by Lennon.

"I am not angry with accusations I was disappointed," said Lennon, whose side went down to an injury-time goal from Jordi Alba.

"I have watched Barcelona on many occasions, even away from home they have dominated games to the point where it is 70-30 (in terms of possession).

"In some games against Real Madrid and Chelsea at times it was 80% in favour of Barcelona.

"They are the best in the world at keeping possession and they have proved that consistently for the last seven or eight years.

"We never set out to be defensive but Barcelona force you to play that way. I was very proud of the performance and we almost came away with a superb result.

"We should have come out of the game with an enormous amount of credit."

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova could inflict a double blow to Celtic's Champions League hopes.

The Catalan giants have won their first three Group G fixtures and are five points ahead of Neil Lennon's side, who are one point ahead of Spartak Moscow and three ahead of Benfica.

A Barca win coupled with a Spartak defeat against Benfica will assure the Primera Division outfit of first place in the section.

Asked at the press conference at Celtic Park what would he would do if such a scenario unfolded, Vilanova, whose side have still to travel to Moscow before finishing with a home game against Benfica, replied: "It is probably the most important match in what is left of the year.

"If we qualify and are first in the group we will be able to rest some of our players and use the youth team."

When challenged on that policy later, in terms of it going against the spirit of competition and thus potentially harming Celtic's qualification chances, Vilanova gave Hoops fans some succour.

"I said the game was really important so that we could qualify and give some players a rest," he said.

"But do not worry, the teams that will play in the next games will always be top level because we have always been.

"The fact that some of those players don't play often doesn't mean they don't have an excellent level.

"But the most important thing is that we win."



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