Source: Team_Talk
Lennon refusing to throw in the towel
eil Lennon insists Celtic's Champions League dream is still alive - and hopes Aiden McGeady can turn around their qualifying tie with Braga.[LNB] Lennon oversaw a miserable 3-0 third qualifying-round first-leg defeat at the AXA Stadium, which left the Hoops' hopes of reaching the lucrative group stage hanging by a thread.[LNB]The Celtic boss insisted overturning such a deficit was far from impossible, revealing he would mention the victory he played in five years ago that almost witnessed an even greater comeback against Artmedia Bratislava.[LNB]After infamously losing the first leg 5-0, the Bhoys won 4-0 at Celtic Park, going down by the narrowest of margins in their second qualifying-round tie.[LNB]"We'll be drawing on that experience," said Lennon, who is banking on an intimidating atmosphere at Parkhead.[LNB]"We'll have a pretty big crowd behind us."[LNB]Despite his outward show of confidence, Lennon's first taste of the Champions League from the other side of the touchline appears destined to be a short one.[LNB]Whether he will be allowed to cup tie McGeady in the process remains to be seen but he claims there was nothing sinister about the winger's omission last night.[LNB]That was despite Lennon having insisted 24 hours earlier that his star midfielder would play unless he was overruled by the club's hierarchy.[LNB]McGeady's absence fuelled speculation his Parkhead career was at an end but Lennon revealed afterwards the 24-year-old had been left out after a back problem flared up and not because he was on the brink of being sold.[LNB]Lennon said: "Having spoken to the medical team, with the lack of training and the lack of game time he's had, I thought it best not to risk him.[LNB]"Hopefully, we'll have him for the second leg."[LNB]The same cannot be said for Andreas Hinkel, whose days at Celtic look numbered after he was not even registered to play last night.[LNB]"He's got a year left on his contract and we can't afford to let that run down," said Lennon.[LNB]Replacement Cha Du-Ri was one of four debutants last night, all of whom failed to impress.[LNB]Lennon, who was heavily critical of the officiating, said: "I thought they were a wee bit nervous.[LNB]"It takes them a bit of time to gel."[LNB]Summing up his side's display, which saw them concede a controversial penalty, a goal from a corner and a stunning free-kick, Lennon added: "I just thought overall we could've passed the ball better at times.[LNB]"The disappointing thing is the set-pieces we conceded from.[LNB]"We emphasised that quite a lot over the past week or so that they're a very important facet of the game.[LNB]"With 10-15 minutes to go, we were fine, and we conceded two really poor goals."[LNB]Braga boss Domingos Paciencia agreed with Lennon that next week's second leg was far from a formality.[LNB]"It's going to be a tough match," he said.[LNB]"At the end of this match I was reminded of the game Celtic-Benfica, that Celtic won 3-0.[LNB]"We're always prepared for something like this in football."
