Scott Brown has jumped to the defence of Shane Duffy.
The on-loan defender has been caught in a whirlwind of criticism- almost joining Celtic in a perfect storm as central defenders fall by the wayside.
Chris Jullien and Kris Ajer weren’t available at Hampden yesterday with Duffy spending time alongside Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed as Celtic notched up a clean sheet and Scottish Cup Final place. Behind Duffy Vasilis Barkas has been replaced by Scott Bain.
At Brighton Duffy was used to anchoring a backs-to-the wall side alongside Lewis Dunk week in week out.
Yesterday at Hampden the Irish internationalist was the only defensive player in the Celtic side, Bitton excels pushing forward and spraying passes while full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Diego Laxalt are more at home charging forward than back-tracking.
At times Duffy has looked like a fish out of water but his captain has no doubts over what the 28-year-old brings to the party.
Discussing Duffy, Lennon told the Daily Record:
He was brilliant, just exceptional, with the ball, with his defending and keeping a good line for us. He talked throughout the game.
We all know he can do it. He keeps doing it week in, week out for us. Listen, there’s always going to be criticism, people always want to have a go at us.
It doesn’t matter who it comes from. We just batter away. We just worry about ourselves and everyone in that dressing room.
That’s why we’re strong, that’s why we keep doing this. That’s what our long cup successes have been all about and we want more. For us, in that dressing room it’s about working hard for each other. We believe in each other.
There is no let up for Duffy and his Celtic team-mates, on Thursday Sparta Prague visit in the Europa League followed by a trip to Motherwell on Sunday as they return to SPFL duty.
