Martin O’Neill has reminded critical Celtic fans that the season was far from fluent under Brendan Rodgers.
The appointment of Neil Lennon on a permanent basis was given a lukewarm reception by many supporters who had elevated the Rodgers days into some sort of footballing utopia.
While Rodgers’ first season set a new benchmark, to borrow a much loved phrase of O’Neill, the follow up season saw a number of flat performances highlighted by home draws with St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Dundee and the club from Ibrox.
Celtic entered 2019 level on points with Steven Gerrard’s side, who had played a game more, with defeats at Tynecastle, Rugby Park, Easter Road and Ibrox causing alarm.
Lennon kicked off his reign as caretaker with two wins in Edinburgh with just one defeat on his record as he completed the treble treble.
O’Neill brought his fellow Irishman to Celtic 19 years ago and told The Sun about his surprise at the mixed reception given to the new hoops boss.
I really can’t get my head around it at all because I don’t think he put a foot wrong after taking over from Brendan Rodgers.
If I get the chance, I watch Celtic games on television and I’m not sure that the season had been entirely fluent for the duration of the campaign, for one reason or another.
So it was not a given that Neil would walk in there and get it right. I think you have to be really appreciative of the kind of pressure he was under in those months — all the while as he was trying to win a Treble, which is no mean feat.
I sometimes wonder in this day and age whether there is an opinion that is as widespread as things are reported.
When I watched the Scottish Cup final I heard his name sung loudly and clearly. It didn’t seem to me that there was an issue there.
Lennon will find out later this morning who Celtic will face in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
A happy conclusion?https://t.co/nSVcymbrIX
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) June 18, 2019