Celtic: Charlie Mulgrew unfazed by Neil Lennon boo boys

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon and defender Charlie Mulgrew

Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has described manager Neil Lennon's weekend spat with some supporters as "heat of the moment".

Lennon was involved in a verbal exchange with home fans during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Inverness CT.

The manager said he "would go" if the supporters were unhappy with his record.

But Mulgrew said: "It shows passion and what passion for the club the fans have."

Celtic are within one game of reaching the last-16 of the Champions League but the loss to Inverness means they have taken just one point from their last three league games at home.

Despite the slips, the defending Scottish Premier League champions are top of the table with a game in hand.

Mulgrew said the players were determined to halt their domestic slump but also defended the supporters' right to vent their frustration.

"It's passion and wanting us to win and the manager also wanting us to win," said the Scotland international.

"The fans obviously care and it shows with the way they supported us in Barcelona and different games this year.

"It's just heat of the moment and I don't think there's anything to be taken from it to be honest.

"(Fans) pay their money to come and watch the match and they have their views. Nobody says they can't have a view on what's happening.

"It shows passion and what passion for the club the fans have. There's a lot of expectation, especially at home in the league; we have to live up to that and take whatever stick the fans give us."

Mulgrew said Celtic aimed to get back to winning ways against Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday.

"We were very disappointed but need to pick ourselves up very quickly," he added.

"It's a good thing we've got a game coming up so quickly."

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40 comments

  • Comment posted by U14097593, at 09:30 27 Nov 2012

    @25

    Responding to TomSlabber makes you as big an eejit has him !

  • Comment posted by U15518055, at 20:30 26 Nov 2012

    Struggling................ one point clear and a game in hand. One game away from reaching the knock-out stages of the Champions League. Largest average league attendance. Struggling is sitting 32 places below in division 3.

  • Comment posted by U15454628, at 17:48 26 Nov 2012

    Yes, Celtic were rotten on Saturday and we do have work to do at home.

    He's shown himself to be astute, intelligent and everybody knows how good a motivator he is.

    He's the right man for the job - Get a grip those who booed.

  • Comment posted by sthomson18, at 17:45 26 Nov 2012

    Quite amazed any Celtic supporters could be unhappy with Lennon at the moment. He's within touching distance of qualifying for the last 16 of the CL in a group many thought Celtic would be very lucky to finish 3rd in. They're also sitting a point clear at the top of the PL with a game in hand. As usual it's the casual disregard of other teams in Scotland from Old Firm fans.

  • Comment posted by morbhoy, at 17:31 26 Nov 2012

    Much ado about nothing.
    Lennon has been magnificent and the fans in question need to get a sense of perspective.

  • Comment posted by U15519623, at 22:59 27 Nov 2012

    @jimbo 1467

    Says the Sevco fan trawling about Celtic articles. Pretty dumb sure you are petal?

  • Comment posted by OneForTheFallen, at 22:13 27 Nov 2012

    6 points between 1st and 8th and you say it was a more exciting league with Rangers in it when there was about 20points between 2nd and 3rd? Also the SPL's current european coefficient was achieved WITH Rangers in the league. So after dismissing the nonsense of those two points let me do away with your third. Rangers were not punished. They didn't pay PAYE or NI for a year and got liquidated!

  • Comment posted by U15477099, at 16:01 27 Nov 2012

    Whatever the scores tonight are, there will be a team either above Celtic or joint top with Celtic. That makes the league more interesting and competative. That normally means better quality in sport and might start to happen in the Spl. Celtic NL and the players included.

  • Comment posted by The Black Cat, at 12:36 27 Nov 2012

    @ 31

    Rotated his players more for this match??? Matthews and Mulgrew are playing out of position in defence because of injuries. There are players starting that are unfit but the manager has no choice but to start them. On the bench there was two youth players and Scott Brown had to be brought on in the second half even though he should be in surgery. Rotation wasn't really an option!

  • Comment posted by Bill Redmond, at 19:01 26 Nov 2012

    I don't think there are many supporters who want Lennon to go. He's improved the team's performance and brought in some excellent players. Teams come to Celtic Park effectively to do to Celtic what Celtic did to Barcelona, contain, keep their shape and discipline and take their chance when it comes.It's been frustrating in recent games at home but I believe Neil Lennon is the right manager for us.

  • Comment posted by U14101386, at 17:36 26 Nov 2012

    Lennon's just focusing more on where the money is (CL) - in what, 2 weeks time the SPL is not going to be the same problem when Europe shuts down until February. In that time there's a load of games which Celtic will steamroller, sew up the league before he goes back into European competition. Some Celtic fans just lack the vision to see that!

  • Comment posted by U15517771, at 17:30 26 Nov 2012

    Neil is doing a great job top of the league with a game in hand & a chance to get into the last 16 of the champions league , I hope he is at Celtic for years to come

  • Comment posted by U15431196, at 13:41 27 Nov 2012

    It's not a problem with the players but with the attitude of the players. They find it hard to lift themselves for the league and unfortunately for Lennon it's his responsibility to get rid of complacency which he hasn't done. He deserves a little stick for that but not getting abused by home fans. The league will be won by Feb in time for the European campaign kicking off again.

  • Comment posted by U15431196, at 09:52 27 Nov 2012

    The fans do deserve better but over the course of the season Lennon knows what he's doing. The league will be won at a canter once this years Euro games come to an end. The manager and the team can concentrate on the league alone and will start smashing teams. If Rangers were still in the league then we'd have more motivation to do well. As it stands we can afford to take our eye off the ball.

  • Comment posted by U14916813, at 07:56 27 Nov 2012

    I thought Lennon had matured after the disgrace of last season, and I was starting to think of him a really decent, level-headed but underrated coach.

    Obviously there is still a bit to go, but I hope he carries on improving.

    Passion is great but a professional should be able to control and channel it effectively, and not lose control to the embarrassment of himself and those around him.

  • Comment posted by JohnnyBoy, at 20:02 26 Nov 2012

    The gangster in a track suit is at it again. The boy does not take well to critisicm, does he? Never short of a smile and a Sky interview, when things are going well but as soon as some of his own support start heckling, it's a case of "it's ma ba' and I'm going home" - pathetic!

  • Comment posted by Zoom15000, at 18:24 26 Nov 2012

    Most people still have no sense of perspective. The SPL is close NOT because the quality has increased. The likes of Motherwell, Hibs, Inverness etc. are still not on a par, not even close. The only reason the SPL is close is because Celtic have underperformed. It's like Usain Bolt slowing down to let the others catch up. It's not exciting it's just hiding the truth - the SPL is dire!

  • Comment posted by tomfer, at 17:37 26 Nov 2012

    I tell you one thing , this is genuinely THE most competitive and entertaining season yet for the SPL , so , so much for the doom predictors and neigh sayers , who made dire predictions for a league without Rangers . It is good that Celtic are not just rolling over everyone , it makes them less complacent , hopefully , in both Europe and the domestic competitions , nothing is certain .

  • Comment posted by mikeb, at 12:28 27 Nov 2012

    Come on Mr Lennon,stop arguing with the people who pay your wages,now Rangers are gone you will win the league,you had a great result against the mighty Catalans and deserved it.

  • Comment posted by U15062400, at 10:13 27 Nov 2012

    If you pay good money and have to watch very well-paid players under-perform then of course people should voice their opinions.

    NL should have rotated his players more for this match.
    Ideal opportunity.

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