“You start looking at other mountains to climb,” Neil Lennon | OneFootball

Much has been made about Celtic’s ongoing domestic dominance and how that could be affecting the club’s players in a negative fashion…

Callum McGregor scores. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic’s recent hiccup

The recent hiccup in Scottish football for Brendan Rodgers and his team has been highlighted as a result of a lack of competition and no real challenge for the title year in, year out.

Now Neil Lennon has chimed into the discussion, with the club legend having experienced this type of situation before when he was manager. During Neil’s first spell, there was no real challenge to speak of and with the new Ibrox club working it’s way back from the bottom of the Scottish third tier, even the prospect of a derby was off the agenda for several years.

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Lenny has opened up on the challenges of trying to keep that freshness and verve in the squad and the appetite to conquer the same challenges repeatedly, citing the need to keep hold of the team’s spine, whilst acknowledging others will hope to leave once a suitable offer arrives.

Michael Stewart asked about the need for different challenges, to which he replied on The Scottish Football Social Club Podcast: “Yeah it’s a good point. I mean, this team haven’t experienced it yet, Mikey. But when you don’t have something it makes you want it more.

Daizen Maeda celebrates. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

‘Every season you need to keep refreshing it’

“So, it comes from the manager, the messaging from the manager. Obviously with the way Brendan and his staff sort of talk it through. And I think Callum McGregor and your James Forrest’s predominantly again, your senior players, Carter-Vickers… they drive the narrative for the team.

“But every season you need to keep refreshing it. You know, by bringing one or two bodies in. I mean they had a good summer, they spent well. They backed the manager very, very powerfully – compared to the rest of the teams in Scotland. And I think that’s important.

Jota scores. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

‘That’s what happens with the likes of O’Riley’

“Once you reach the top of the mountain, so many times you start looking at other mountains to climb. And that’s what happens with the likes of (Matt) O’Riley goes in the summer. Maybe suitors for Kühn or Maeda. That’s the important thing, is to make sure that the conveyor belt of quality keeps rolling on. It’s always important to keep it fresh, but keep your main sort of quarter-backs happy and in the squad driving the narrative forward,” he added.

Lennon then continued to explain the drop off in intensity lately from the Bhoys, adding: “They’re so far ahead in the league that the intensity did drop a little bit. I thought the reaction to the St Johnstone game was a little bit over the top.

Celtic supporters shows their support at full-time following the team’s victory in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘He sent out a message, you know. He dropped Jota, he dropped Kühn’

“I know they didn’t play well first-half. But second-half, I mean, they sort of had eight or nine attempts at goal on target. You know, their goalkeeper (St Johnstone) Fisher had a great game. And I thought Celtic played quite well in the second-half.

“Brendan came out – and he doesn’t do it very often – but he sent out a message, you know. He dropped Jota, he dropped Kühn and he got exactly the reaction he wanted. It’s not often a manager has that amount of quality at his disposal and it just shows you the power that the squad has.”

Neil Lennon and Callum Davidson. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Neil Lennon also discussed what’s wrong with theRangers and you can read his thoughts on their problems HERE.

Paul Gillespie

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