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Celtic: Neil Lennon targets Champions League win in Belfast

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments129

Glasgow Celtic manager Neil Lennon is wary of the threat provided by Cliftonville in the Champion League

Neil Lennon insists Celtic will not take Cliftonville lightly in their Champions League qualifier.

Speaking ahead of the second qualifying round first leg in Belfast, Lennon said Wednesday's opponents would not be underestimated.

"We have to be as professional as we can, quell the home crowd and try to impose our game on them," he said.

"This is our first competitive game (of the season.) It's a big ask but that's where we are."

Lennon added: "Cliftonville are a good side and we've had them watched.

"Their team will be well prepared and they'll be highly motivated for this game but the Champions League is so important for us as well.

"It's a dangerous game and it is one we're not taking lightly. We will have to be at our best.

"I know it's early and I know some of the players won't be at their best but we'll have to play very well to get a result tomorrow."

Celtic forward Georgios Samaras said the players were determined to progress to the group stage of the Champions League, with one more qualifying hurdle to overcome this season.

"This is our target and what we want to achieve this season," he said. "We need to get ready physically and mentally, and focus on these really important games.

"We need to forget what happened last season and concentrate on the future."

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129 comments

  • Comment posted by U15486922, at 17:41 17 Jul 2013

    @121
    Where in all the rubbish you spouted today does it prove your view that a high co-eff doesnt benefit teams in the SPL other than Celtic?
    If you google "uefa club coefficient" + check the 2nd the wikipedia entry - halfway down is a table showing how many places in Europe leagues get for there teams based on how many co-eff pts the teams earned in europe in previous years.
    Proving MY point

  • Comment posted by drawkcab, at 17:14 17 Jul 2013

    This is supposed to be about celtic and cliftonville. Can all supporters of a second division team please sign out and watch corrie tonight whilst the scottish champions enjoy a night of teaching the lads from cliftonville how to play fare with flair.

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 17:09 17 Jul 2013

    @115 Curious as to where this lost 600,000 figure came from, could you elaborate please?

  • Comment posted by U15486922, at 17:01 17 Jul 2013

    @ tup1903 again U dont reply to the reason the co-eff is good for ALL clubs cuz U cant disprove facts with Ur narrow-minded view. Instead U provide more guff. Where are all the fans that were in Gothenburg now? Maybe if they all came back + you started supporting your team again instead of moaning at Celtic you'd have a better income that'd let you attract better players + reach a high level again

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 16:54 17 Jul 2013

    116. Nope. From here on in, Sevco, new Rangers, Newco... Pacific Shelf is a bit off the wall for me personally, yet it's all good fun.

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 16:44 17 Jul 2013

    113. Luckily Celtic aren't the establishment club, so it'd be good to see non-Sevco fans supporting their own teams.

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 16:38 17 Jul 2013

    @101 Didn't Barcelona's Messi make his infamous negative football remark in the wake of their game at ibrox againnst old Wally's ten-man defence? Just quoting, like

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 16:31 17 Jul 2013

    103. Aye, I get it. You been topping up your summer orange juice with vodka, yeah?

  • Comment posted by U1677408, at 16:20 17 Jul 2013

    For those of you wanting a "more competitive" Scottish league, there's only one way it's ever going to happen -

    Celtic
    Aberdeen
    Edinburgh City
    Dundee City
    Glasgow City
    Lanarkshire United
    Perthshire United
    Ayrshire Athletic
    Fife Flyers
    Renfrew Rovers
    Border Reivers
    Highland Hoochters

    Amalgamation is the only way you can compete with a club of Celtic's size, history and fanbase.

  • Comment posted by U15486922, at 16:20 17 Jul 2013

    @100 better co-eff lets more teams enter better comps at later stages, meaning games against better opposition + more cash made. For Celtic it means a better chance to progress by avoiding potential banana skins like tonight.
    Understood?
    @101 year b4 last Celtic W1 D1 L1 in EL away games against Rennes, Udinese + Atletico. The co-eff pts earned there helped, go back to the 2nd div forums

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 16:20 17 Jul 2013

    101. ParSoup. The co-efficient points earned by old Rangers were earned by them not paying their taxes. That's essentially a false co-efficient which meant that teams couldn't improve against a false representation of what they could potentially compete against. Why do people still not understand the scale of the problem old Rangers caused Scottish football?

  • Comment posted by sodapop, at 16:18 17 Jul 2013

    @ 90

    Hmm, dont give up the day job friend, cant see those lyrics catching on.

    Anyway i thought you were off after you made such a hash of your last response.

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 16:09 17 Jul 2013

    The improved coefficient affects the level at which UEFA rank all Scottish teams and the quality of the teams they play against, making them more money even if they only play one game and lose. Stop talking nonsense.

  • Comment posted by weeMartian, at 16:00 17 Jul 2013

    A couple of tidy paydays for Cliftonville, mutual respect from both teams and sets of fans, assurances from the authorities that the hate-mongers will be kept at bay and hopefully an entertaining match. What's not to like ? Mon the Hoops !!!

  • Comment posted by U15486922, at 15:59 17 Jul 2013

    @tup1903 u say that cuz u cant disprove it - its fact that up til xmas Celtic played m/wk games almost weekly + teams were takin pts off them, so league was close up to then.
    Celtic'll have a better chance winnin the league cuz we sell more tickets/have more fans. Gettin far in Euro helps up the coefficient, that allows more teams entry to Euro, that helps make more money, that helps them compete

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 15:58 17 Jul 2013

    How is that any different from any league in the world? What happens is, you support your team, you put money into your own club, you compete against Celtic, your players should improve. If they don't, something is wrong with your managers and staff, hire betters ones. It doesn't mean you automatically win games, it means you improve! How else? With improvement there's entertainment and more fans.

  • Comment posted by Jamie - the other one, at 15:51 17 Jul 2013

    @93 Sorry don't understand your reponse. What has it to do with Rangers not being in league. The simple fact is Celtic already have a spending power in excess of the rest of the league and an additional £15m CL money makes the situation worse. It is not about lowering the standard of the league it is about the others having a manageable gap to justify trying to better themselves.

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 15:43 17 Jul 2013

    91. Brilliant. Typical Scottish football supporters. Hope the big team lose so the league quality becomes absolute guff, hope the standards collapse so that we don't have to improve our own players by competing against a higher level. You've forgotten Rangers aren't in the league anymore, we spend what we make from the league, you're competing against what money you put in yourselves.

  • Comment posted by GeeDoubleU, at 15:32 17 Jul 2013

    88. New song for Sevco fans:

    "Sevco, Super Sevco
    No-one likes us,
    We don't care,
    Until we're closed down,
    For not paying taxes,
    Then it's all so,
    So unfair."

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 14:58 17 Jul 2013

    @68 & @86
    You too clearly have blinkers on. Celtic, Motherwell, Hibernian and St Johnstone are all playing in Europe. Two of those sides were the main challengers and the other a Cup finalist. These might push this season, but all four have a chance to male money if they can get a bit of momentum going. They will all have to look at carefully managing their squads. Whatever happens lets cheer all!

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