Neil Lennon has described Neil McCann’s criticism of Odsonne Edouard as utter nonsense.
While most watching fans marvelled at the nerve and technique of the striker as he put Celtic 2-0 in front deep in the BBC Scotland commentary position Mann wasn’t approving.
Disrespectful he claimed in regard to scoring against former team-mate Craig Gordon, later on during Sportscene McCann described the way that the penalty was taken as selfish.
Edouard was mobbed by delighted team-mates straight after scoring with Lennon going to town with his criticism of the former Dundee boss.
Answering McCann’s criticism, the Celtic manager told The Sun:
You want me to caution Odsonne for scoring a penalty in a cup final? Come on. The Panenka has been around since 1976. I have seen great players doing it. I have seen Andrea Pirlo doing it against England. I don’t recall any of those individuals getting criticised or being called disrespectful.
It’s complete and utter nonsense. You can’t ask anyone to warn a player after he’s scored a beautiful goal in an important game like a cup final. Don’t do that again Odsonne, because some people think it’s disrespectful!
McCann enjoyed two spells playing for Hearts either side of a stint at Ibrox and a move to Southampton.
After being tempted out of punditry to manage Dundee he was sacked after less than two years in the job and is now working for a variety of media outlets.
Edouard wasn’t put off by any criticism, sharing images of his Panenka penalty across Social Media.