Deila ‘right man for Celtic’, says Neil Lennon

NEW Bolton manager Neil Lennon insists that Ronny Deila is the ‘right man to take Celtic forward’ and believes that the return of Rangers will bring back competitiveness to Scottish football’s top flight.
Neil Lennon is unveiled as Bolton manager. Picture: GettyNeil Lennon is unveiled as Bolton manager. Picture: Getty
Neil Lennon is unveiled as Bolton manager. Picture: Getty

In an interview with Sky Sports, the former Hoops boss backed the Norwegian over claims he had slammed the Celtic squad’s diet and outlined why he felt Celtic needed Rangers back in the Scottish Premiership.

He said: “I think it’s important that Rangers come back and there’s that balance again, of Celtic-Rangers games.

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“I think that’s been missed for a couple of seasons now - that edge, the competitiveness that all competitors need.

“There are some great competitors at Celtic who need that stimulus week in, week out.

“Once Ronny Deila finds his feet and gets a bit of time to implement what he does then the club will be very successful. They’re the dominant team in Scotland, and I’m pretty sure the club have picked the right man to take Celtic forward.”

Lennon was also asked for his thoughts on Ronny Deila - who Lennon claimed had been lined up as his assistant following the departure of Johan Mjallby - criticising the diet at Celtic.

At the start of this month, the former Stromsgodset manager said: “Do you think Andy Murray eats chips? For Andy Murray to win Wimbledon, he did something different to what he did four or five years before.”

It also emerged in August that Deila had banned fizzy drinks from Lennoxtown, adding: “We have to train like a Champions League team. And that means going at 100 per cent every day. We have to be fit. I want a quick team and you can’t be quick if you weigh too much.”

But Lennon backed his Parkhead successor, saying: “I think Ronny just wants to implement his own ways in terms of diet.

“The diet at Celtic was pretty good and I think Ronny’s just trying to eke out a little more.

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“I don’t think he was critical of my regime or players. I think he just wants to put his own stamp on the club.”

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