Celtic boss Lennon feeling the pressure

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon insists the pressure to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League would be intense regardless of the club’s financial results.

The Hoops this week revealed a 15% drop in annual turnover and an increase in bank debt of more than £4 million, as well as posting a loss before tax of £2.1m after making a profit of £2m the previous year.

However, Lennon believes external expectations will pale in comparison to the demands his players will put on themselves ahead of tonight’s play-off first leg against Utrecht.

“There is always pressure and it varies,” he said.

“There are different kinds of pressure and I think the most pressure will come from what we put on ourselves.

“It is early days in the season and we are playing big games very early. We know that and we have accepted that.

“The priority is to try to wrest the title back from Rangers but we’ve had some great years over the last decade or so in Europe and we’d like another shot at that.

“Getting through these two games is important for the rest of the season as well.”

Celtic crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage to Braga but Lennon has taken plenty of encouragement from Saturday’s Premier League opener at Inverness ahead of the clash with the Dutch.

He said: “I know it’s different opposition, a different quality of opposition, but we will take a lot from the performance on Saturday going into the game tonight and just try to be as productive as we can.

“I was really pleased with the fluency. From 30 minutes in, we played well and showed what we are capable of.

“It’s a difficult place to go to and we created chances as well, which was pleasing.”