Celtic boss looks forward to Emirates Cup
Celtic manager Neil Lennon is putting the disappointment of his side’s UEFA Champions League qualifying defeat behind him as he looks forward to the Emirates Cup tournament.
The Scottish Premier League club fell to a 3-0 loss against Sporting Club de Braga in Portugal in the first leg of the third qualifying round of Europe’s elite club tournament. But Lennon sees this weekend’s games against top-quality opposition as the ideal warm-up for the return leg at Celtic Park next Wednesday.
The Parkhead boss believes the competition, held in London each year at the Emirates Stadium, is an important part of his team’s pre-season program and has called on his players to take full advantage of the opportunity to test themselves as they take on French Ligue 1 runners-up Olympique Lyonnais and English Premier League outfit Arsenal Football Club.
Speaking to reporters at the Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal and the venue for the tournament, Lennon said: “This is only part of the preparation for Wednesday night. We’ve brought 22 players and we’ll try and use as many as we can over the two days with Wednesday in mind. The players are still sore from Wednesday night. They are hurting and that has made them more determined to prove themselves and show the tie is not irredeemable.”
Tough opponents
Although Lyon failed to claim the Ligue 1 title last season after falling behind Marseille, they proved to be a force in the Champions League as they reached the semi-final after besting Bordeaux and La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Lyon have several quality players who will provide a stern test for the Hoops among their ranks, including French internationals Hugo Lloris and Jérémy Toulalan. Goalkeeper Lloris has been with the club for two seasons, having joined from OGC Nice for a fee of 8.5 million euros. Though he has not yet won the league title with Lyon, he has been named the league’s top goalkeeper in each of his two seasons there. Toulalan, meanwhile, is a tough-tackling midfielder who has been with Lyon since 2006, following a seven million euro transfer from Nantes. He has won two league titles, a Coupe de France and two Trophée des champions with the club and has received 14 caps for France.
Lennon said of Lyon: “It will be a tough test against them. They will be quality opposition. This is a team that, up until a couple of years ago, were consecutive title winners for a number of years. I played against them myself. They were a very good team in 2004 and they have produced some good players over the years.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, have quality throughout their ranks. The club’s blend of youth and experience led them to a third place finish in last season’s EPL. Perhaps their most potent threat is captain Cesc Fabregas. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner has been subject of the summer’s biggest transfer saga over a mooted move to Barcelona, but will undoubtedly line up for the Gunners this weekend. He is the engine room which drives Arsenal’s midfield, picking out passes which many other players would not be able to spot. Should one of those passes pick out Dutch forward Robin Van Persie in the right position, then Celtic may soon find themselves a goal down against the English side.
Lennon said: “Arsenal have a fantastic team. I love the way they play, individually and collectively. You just have to look at the stadium and the pitch - it’s impeccable. It is a fantastic arena to play in and the players are all looking forward to it. They will be playing against a quality side.”
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