Source: Team_Talk
Hoops boss happy despite CL exit
eil Lennon was delighted with his Celtic side's second-leg display, despite seeing their Champions League campaign end at the first hurdle.[LNB] First Celtic goals for debutant Gary Hooper and Efrain Juarez earned Lennon's men a 2-1 home win over Sporting Braga on Wednesday night but Paulo Cesar's first-half away goal had left them needing five to progress. While the Portuguese side now look forward to the Champions League play-offs after a 4-2 aggregate win, Celtic will have to negotiate their way through the same stages of the Europa League.[LNB]Lennon said: "Overall I'm delighted with the performance and intensity and all the things you ask for - commitment and passion.[LNB]"The pace we played at and the passing was very pleasing.[LNB]"At half-time we just asked them to win the game and I thought we deserved to win.[LNB]"But we keep conceding soft goals. I'm learning from it and hopefully the players are learning."[LNB]Cesar ran across Cha Du-ri before heading home as Celtic lost their ninth goal in four games, including the Emirates Cup.[LNB]Lennon added: "I just think it was a poor goal, the guy has got across Cha. I didn't think there was much pace on the cross and he headed it from far out."[LNB]But he went on: "I thought we were excellent in the second half.[LNB]"There were some great performances."[LNB]Lennon has not heard anything from Aiden McGeady, who is due back in Glasgow tomorrow following talks with Spartak Moscow.[LNB]And he refused to dampen speculation over the potential re-signing of Manchester City's Craig Bellamy, who spent several months on loan at Parkhead in 2005.[LNB]"I wouldn't like to say anything at the moment," the Celtic manager responded when asked about reports of a move.[LNB]When asked whether the club were in a position to pull off that sort of transfer, he replied: "I would hope so but I don't know. It's still up in the air regards that."
