Neil Lennon’s highlight of the season

Neil Lennon didn’t hesitate for an instant when he was asked the question.

Minutes after clinching the domestic double, during a season where his side beat Barcelona, won the SPL in a canter and recorded an away win in the Champions League the Celtic boss instinctively knew his answer.

“Qualifying for the last 16 of Champions League,” was the answer from the hoops boss as he was asked to pick out the highlight of a memorable season by Celtic TV.

“Beating Barcelona was magnificent but we then lost to Benfica and there was a lot riding on the Spartak Moscow game- a great side.

“To beat them and play so well for the majority of the second half showed great maturity and hunger. To get to the last 16 was awesome.”

Any talk of a Hampden hoodoo was put firmly to bed with Gary Hooper’s first half goals with Lennon hoping that his side’s achievements will be respected.

“People said that we failed at Hampden but that’s two FA Cup’s and two championships for this side,” the Celtic boss added. “Two with Rangers and two without.

“I’m fed up with people nipping away at this team. They’ve been performing heroically on the pitch- hopefully they get the credit they deserve.

“I’m so proud of this team, getting a double is very special. The players have been magnificent this season and thoroughly deserve the double.”

Lennon’s squad will have less than a month to enjoy their success with the non-internationalists back in pre-season training on June 20.

The draw for the second round qualifiers in the Champions League will be made on June 24 with the first leg matches being played on July 19/20.

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