BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English appeared on the latest edition of the BBC’s Sportsound Scottish Football Podcast to react to Celtic’s 2019/20 Scottish Cup Final penalty shootout win over Heart of Midlothian on Sunday.
An interview with Celtic boss Neil Lennon featured on this podcast and the Northern Irishman indicated (29:52) that he believes the pressure that has been building on him and his job of late following a poor run of form for the Hoops from mid-October to early-December may ease now that he’s helped the club to secure a historic ‘quadruple treble.’
However, English later issued a warning to Lennon, declaring that “the pressure is not off him” unless the Hoops build on their run of three wins in their last three games by continuing to win matches, with the journalist explaining that he feels plenty of Celtic fans will still want a change in manager despite this cup final win.
English said: (31:48) “It’s his 21st trophy as player or manager at Celtic but the pressure is not off him. It isn’t off him because it’s Celtic and it doesn’t matter. If they lose or even drop points and get a draw in their next league game, the pressure’s on him. I guarantee you there will be Celtic fans out there who will be celebrating the quadruple treble who will also want Neil Lennon out.”
Do you think pressure is easing on Lennon?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts on English’s warning to Lennon…
Given that Celtic are trying to win what would be a historic 10th straight Scottish top-flight title this term and they currently trail their Old Firm rivals Rangers by 16 points in the league – though they have played three games less than the league leaders – perhaps it’s understandable why English believes the pressure is very much still on Lennon, especially when you consider that some Hoops fans have felt so strongly that their club needs a change in manager, that they’ve been staging anti-Lennon protests outside of Celtic Park.
Hopefully, though, for Lennon and Celtic, this cup final win does signify a turning point for the Hoops and they start to rack up more wins in the league from this point onwards. If they manage to do that and close the gap on Rangers, then the pressure will surely start to ease off on Lennon but at present, it remains to be seen if they can do this and so, it may be too early to say that the pressure is easing.