The results have been great for Celtic this season, the performances not so much. Neil Lennon has revealed a possible reason for that.
The Celtic fixture list is particularly busy over the coming weeks with some big matches coming up. Playing at home always used to give a great advantage given the world renowned and award winning Hoops fans. A packed Parkhead ground for matches against the Rangers and AC Milan brought excitement, glamour and backing for the players in tough games. It’s often been like a twelfth man, but without a whistle or flag.
But of course that’s a gap, another man knocked out by the pandemic as the games continue to be played in front of empty stadiums. Fans watching at home or elsewhere will continue to back the team, but silently as far as the players are concerned. Even then the fan experience will be quite different with for example the Central Scotland lockdown rules restricting gatherings and pub tv events.
Lennon has been talking to The Scotsman about how this affects himself and the team, and the need to prepare the Celtic players differently to cope with the fans absence, especially in the local derby. Lennon admitted he’d have struggled himself with the absent crowd:
"“We will work with the players as best we can to deal with that and prepping them as best we can for the games.“They are amazing games to play in so we have to adjust without supporters as best we can.“I don’t know how I would have dealt with it because I thrived on atmosphere. I thrived on the crowd and some players do really thrive on it.”"
Some football players do like the way they can hear their teammates currently and get instructions from the manager during a game. Others have talked of their being no place to hide if their boss is unhappy on the touch line. Perhaps Lennon was thinking of that and Martin O’Neill in his liking for a crowd!
Celtic are on a decent run currently. Even if the actual performances have been patchy at times, the results have been what matters. A good league position and qualification for the Europa League group stage. Talking about the absent crowds, Lennon reflected on the way the team is playing too:
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"“That is missing at the minute but we are still winning games and winning them well. We have had four clean sheets as well, which has been overlooked. We have tidied up defensively and I can’t ask any more for what they are giving me.“I do think still that the lack of supporters in the stadium doesn’t help at times with the intensity of the play. You can see that with other results around Europe – you look at Liverpool and Manchester United, Man City. We have been pretty consistent in our results and we have adapted as well as anybody to it.“My backroom team have done amazing work with the players and the game preparations so we are in a good place and long may it continue.”"
With international games still to be played, the usual fear was of injuries with Celtic having a lot of players involved around the world. Those matches with the players joining international squads now bring additional concerns in the midst of a global pandemic. Ryan Christie for example was ruled out of some matches because of an innocuous console game session with Stuart Armstrong who tested positive.
There’s still a lot that can happen as the run up and preparations for these games continue.
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