Strachan slams sceptics

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has launched an attack on the doubters who have questioned whether Thomas Gravesen and Neil Lennon can play together in the same midfield.

Danish international Gravesen should make his debut against Aberdeen on Saturday following his move from Real Madrid.

But some expected his arrival to signal the end of 35-year-old Northern Irishman Lennon’s Celtic career, suggesting the pair were too similar to play in the same midfield.

Lennon argued last week that they could be a success together this season.

And Strachan told the Celtic View: “People who say that do not know the game and do not know Thomas Gravesen.

“They are ill-informed to start with and people said that about Roy Keane and Neil Lennon.

“But other people are paid to talk and if that is their only ability then carry on. I don’t have a problem with that.

“Roy Keane joined us and people said ‘he and Lennon can’t play together’ but when he joined we were about four points ahead in the title race.

“They went on to play together and when we won the league we were 20 points ahead.

“Anybody with any intelligence can look at it and say ‘Thomas Gravesen is an all-round midfield player’ and anyone who says that ‘he is a sitting midfielder like Neil Lennon’ hasn’t done their homework, does not know the game, does not know Thomas Gravesen, and if we are going to have opinions then let’s have educated opinions.”