CHAMPIONS LEAGUE/THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND/Braga v Celtic:NEIL LENNON should beware the ghost of Gordon Strachan in Portugal tonight. Celtic's newly appointed manager knows Strachan, one of his predecessors, was haunted throughout his Parkhead tenure by his first match in charge of the club.
That encounter was the 5-0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava at the Champions League’s second-round qualifying-stage, first leg five years ago. Lennon, who took temporary control of Celtic towards the end of last season, begins his permanent occupation of the post with a similar level of tie, against Sporting Braga.
The manager conceded that his summer overhaul of the squad he inherited from Tony Mowbray could bring its own problems. “It’s hugely difficult because of the lack of football we have had, the lack of time to prepare,” Lennon said ahead of the third-round qualifying tie. “But the boys are okay.
“We had a good pre-season trip to America and they came back in good condition. They are still trying to get to know each other and some of them haven’t played 90 minutes of football yet.
“But the training has gone well and we are pretty much injury-free. The Champions League at any time is very difficult and so early in the season it’s a tall order, but we’re hoping to keep it tight and have something to hold on to for the home game.”
Celtic’s infamously poor recent away record in European competition does not augur well for Lennon, who retains hopes of holding talks with the England goalkeeper David James this week. James had been due to travel to Glasgow on Monday, but cancelled because of a family issue.
“He couldn’t make it because of a personal problem,” Lennon said.
“We are well aware of that and totally respect that decision.”
Lennon completed his sixth signing of the close season yesterday with the arrival of the striker Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe United for €2.4 million.
CELTIC (probable): Zaluska; Wilson, Hooiveld, Loovens, Mulgrew; Juarez, Ki, Brown, Ledley, Samaras; Fortune.
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