Neil Lennon believes that the bubble of football in the west of Scotland is more bonkers that the situation he walked into in 2020.
The peroxide blonde arrived in the city in November 2000 as Martin O’Neill’s record signing as the hoops went head to head with Dick Advocaat’s free spending regime at Ibrox. Weeks earlier Chelsea had picked up a £12m cheque for Tore Andre Flo.
Those days seem fairly cavalier in hindsight with no sign of Twitter or Instagram to record every movement made by Lennon and his team-mates.
Coping with close interaction with supporters- and non-supporters- is a daily occurrence for clubs to deal with newspapers evolving into websites with round the clock coverage of everything that moves.
Lennon has the responsibility of steering Celtic to a ninth successive title and fourth treble with the pressure higher than ever with three months left to play in the season.
The Celtic boss told The Sun:
It’s always the case, it’s never been any different. I have been here 20 years in Scotland and it’s never changed. In fact, if anything it’s getting more and more pressurised with the way the media is and social media and analysis.
Sometimes it’s unrealistic and sometimes the expectations are unrealistic as well. It’s not just in Glasgow, it’s worldwide. People can get very, very personal. They have avenues to get personal with players, managers or whatever through social media.
I think that’s a very difficult thing for the modern-day player to have to put up with. It’s bonkers. It’s not real. I am so glad I am not on it. I used to be on it years ago but it took up too much of my time.
Tomorrow Lennon faces the media to preview Celtic’s match at Livingston with the hoops 12 points ahead in the title race with 10 matches left to play.