Neil Lennon is determined to make the most of the Hampden return he feared he’d never see.
Whatever the Celtic boss encounters in his managerial career it’s unlikely that he’ll ever experience the hurt, anger and despair of losing to Ross County in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
No Celtic fan needs reminded of that horrible sunny day with Lennon’s aftermatch comments brutal and to the point.
“I don’t know whether I will be here next season – but I’m pretty some of them won’t be,” the then caretaker manager admitted.
“Too many of them have pulled the wool over a lot of peoples’ eyes. I’m way beyond angry after that performance. I didn’t rant and rave to the players.
“I spoke to them coldly for 15 minutes and I told them exactly what I thought of them.
“I’m sick of watching us falling down like that. I’m sick of seeing strikers who aren’t prepared to put their heads in where it hurts. At the other end we can’t keep a clean sheet to save ourselves – we’re just soft.
“You have to have it inside you after humiliating defeats, you had to show you had something about you. Show some bottle, for God’s sake.
“We did none of that. At half-time we were living in hope, hoping one of our big players would do something.”
“It’s been a shambolic season. We’ve gone out of every competition we’ve gone into this season with an absolute whimper.”
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Despite the defeat to Ross County Lennon will return to Hampden to face Aberdeen with a totally recast team.
Only Scott Brown and substitute Paddy McCourt will be back at Hampden for today’s Co-Operative Cup semi final.
Less than a year on from the Ross County debacle Lennon is back at Hampden with a team chasing three trophies rather than last season’s ‘out without a whimper’ squad.
“It’s important for the club and the players to go and play in semi-finals consistently,” Lennon stated looking towards the Aberdeen match.
“We didn’t do ourselves justice in the last semi-final we played in and sometimes in your career you don’t often get the chance to do it again.
“The players who are here from last year have a chance to remedy that and it will be a new experience for the players who have came in, but they’re here to win medals and trophies and this is their opportunity for them to get to a cup final.
“The mental approach to games and the belief in themselves has improved a great deal as the season has gone on.
“But I can’t take anything for granted with a young squad. The fact they are young doesn’t excuse the fact they can go out there and win games and believe in themselves. There is a quiet confidence about them just now.”
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We must get a win today don’t need a reminder of last year that hurt big time, I didn’t need to say that because I’m sure every Celtic suppoter was so cheer on the hoops