From Russia with love for bemused Lennon
At the Hoops’ hotel in Moscow a local journalist, in the most offbeat way, engaged the bemused Parkhead boss in discussion about various topics including Rangers, Sean Connery and former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady, who now plies his trade for the Russian outfit, before a Uefa official eventually stepped in.
Lennon posted on his Twitter account afterwards: “Well that was one of the more bizarre press conferences I’ve had to do.”
Lennon was asked if he would help Old Firm rivals Rangers, who relaunched in the Irn-Bru Third Division this season after descending into administration, if he had €100m to spend.
The former Celtic skipper jokingly responded: “Would I help Rangers? If I had that money, you wouldn’t see me again, I would be in Las Vegas or somewhere like that!
“I have no idea how I would spend the money, I would invest it in the club and team and keep a little for myself.”
Lennon was also asked, on the theme of benevolent club presidents and owners, if he would approach Connery if Celtic had any financial problems.
Almost incredulous at the random link between the Scottish actor and the Parkhead club, he replied: “You’ve done your homework, haven’t you?
“We don’t see us having too many financial problems. The club is run very well and we have to work within our means.
“We don’t have the finances of English clubs or a super-rich owner who is quite happy to plough loads of money in.
“We run the club as a business, we have a budget and a strategy and we work within that and it has been very successful for us, in terms of building a team for the future — but if you have Sean Connery’s number, I will take it off you.”
Lennon — who at one point asked the UEFA interpreter of his Russian inquisitor, “is he a real journalist?” — was asked if a monument should be built in honour of Ireland winger McGeady for earning the Parkhead club a reported £9m when he joined Spartak in 2010.
“A statue?” said the Celtic manager.
“You need to do a little bit more at a club like ours to get a statue. Only people like Jock Stein and the great Jimmy Johnstone are worthy of that so far.
“Aiden is a tremendous player, very talented and definitely one to watch tomorrow and I’m sure he will be even more motivated than usual against his old club.
“He was a great servant to Celtic and is still held in high esteem at the club.
“In terms of bringing in players for the money, it was around about eight to 10, I couldn’t tell you the exact number. We had a rebuilding job to do with the squad and we managed to do that.”
Lennon made clear that he was not being detrimental in any way towards his former team-mate.
“He has improved since his days at Celtic,” he said. “In the games I have watched Spartak play, Aiden has probably been their best attacking player.
“He looks in good condition. We all know how good he is on the ball but his movement off the ball is excellent. He covers the ground very quickly and he will be a threat.
“He will want to win the game and he will want to play well.
“I think there is an extra edge when you are playing against your former club and he will want to show everyone how his all-round game has improved since he left.”
For his part, McGeady has admitted he will experience a “strange feeling” when he lines up against his former employers this evening.
“It’ll be the first time I’ve faced Celtic,” he said.
“I try to catch most Celtic games on TV and I keep up to date with what’s going on online. But, obviously, I’m now a Spartak player.
“Of course, Celtic are the team I grew up with, the team I support and the team I grew to love, but tomorrow night that all goes out the window.”
McGeady admits there is a sense of excitement at the thought of going back to Parkhead.
“To just be back playing at Celtic Park, for a different team, it’s going to be a great experience,” he added. “When the draw came out my phone was ringing off the hook with everyone phoning and texting me about the draw and how good it was.
“It’s going to be exciting.”
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