Source: Team_Talk
Lennon backs Hinkel in Old Firm spat
eil Lennon has hinted that Nacho Novo has fired up his Celtic players ahead of Tuesday night's Old Firm game at Parkhead.[LNB] After Rangers wrapped up their second successive Scottish Premier League title win last week the little Spaniard blasted Celtic and former Hoops' manager Tony Mowbray's criticism of Walter Smith.[LNB]Celtic midfielder Diomansy Kamara said the Hoops would silence Novo and the tension ahead of the match was increased further this morning when Andreas Hinkel claimed Celtic were a better side than Rangers even though they have failed to beat the Ibrox men in three games and are 11 points behind.[LNB]Lennon refuted the suggestion that the German defender's quotes would motivate Rangers before suggesting that Novo's comments had already done that to his players.[LNB]"I read Andy's quotes and I'm not going to come down hard on him at all," the Hoops interim boss said.[LNB]"What's he said that is going to be motivational for Rangers? That we deserved better over the three Old Firm games? Well, I think that's a fair point, is it not?[LNB]"It's just as motivational as Nacho Novo talking about our players.[LNB]"He was just talking about the Old Firm games and he felt that we deserved more and I agree with him.[LNB]"I thought the first Old Firm game was pretty even.[LNB]"The talking points were the penalty decisions and we should have had one or two and that would have changed the course of the game.[LNB]"The second game was all us and that was one that got away from us.[LNB]"We got the goal but couldn't shut the door.[LNB]"In the third game, the (Scott Brown) sending-off changed it and they deserved to win."[LNB]Then asked what he made of what Novo had said, the Irishman replied: "No comment - I will tell you after the game."[LNB]Asked about Kamara's response to the Ibrox striker he again replied: "No comment."[LNB]Skipper Scott Brown, though, added to the tension which will surround Novo by saying: "I don't read papers, especially when he is in them."
