Neil Lennon has high hopes for Celtic ahead of Barcelona clash
Neil Lennon says his Celtic players have the chance to become heroes at Camp Nou tonight when the Scottish side take on Spanish giants Barcelona.
Celtic
go into the match against Barca – who are unbeaten in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season – on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League.
Lennon hopes his players will see the Champions League clash as a massive opportunity to make a name for themselves.
“I am hoping there will be 11 or 14 heroes tonight, not just one.
“Players have already made their name in this competition and I am hoping a few more do it tonight.
“We have to be compact and play with a great intensity but what we do have is pace, good technical ability and we come off a great performance at the weekend.
“We are in a good place at the minute. We are hoping that the bubble doesn’t burst but if it does then we can pick ourselves up very quickly.
“But it is a good challenge for the players and one that they should embrace.”
Barcelona are without the injured Gerard Pique, Daniel Alves,Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal while midfielder Sergio Busquets is suspended.
Barca coach Tito Vilanova played down the significance of those absentees but admitted concerns about Celtic, especially in light of their 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow in Russia earlier in the month.
“Injuries are normally a headache for a coach but we have got what we have got,” he said.
“All Champions League games are complicated and I am worried because Celtic are very fast up front and they proved it against Spartak.
“They play good, counter-attacking football so we know they are dangerous. They are also good in the air and so I am really worried about that.
“Celtic tied with Benfica and beat Spartak in Moscow which was a good thing for them.
“At the beginning people maybe did not take into account of the possibility of Celtic going through but with four points from two games and two games at home to go, they have a chance.”
