‘Uncalled for’: Neil Lennon reacts to what he hears from Rodgers during Celtic’s victory celebrations

Many had been left surprised when Brendan Rodgers decided to return to Celtic.

The Irishman didn’t precisely go away Celtic on the great of phrases after deciding to take the gig at Leicester City in 2019, so that left a bitter style in fans’ mouths.

But all is forgiven due to the fact when Brendan Rodgers returned, he was given a heat welcome and his state-of-the-art job used to be the hardest yet.

The 51-year-old utterly dominated for the duration of his first time at Celtic, but now, he was replacing a man who did the identical in Ange Postecoglou.

It’s truthful to say, for the first 1/2 of the campaign, there used to be a lot of noise about the team’s performances, whether or not they should win the title, recruitment and questions about Rodgers himself.

After Celtic beat St Mirren 3-2 on Saturday and every person used to be celebrating on the pitch, he shared that some of the criticism towards him this season was once ‘personal’, as he told Sky Sports Football (18/05/24 at 2:50 pm).

The one-time FA Cup winner shared that ‘criticism is fine’ but it ‘oversteps the mark’ when people target you personally.

Those words had been heard through Neil Lennon, who has additionally been in the pressure-cooker hotseat at Celtic, and he made it clear that it’s ‘uncalled for’.

Lennon feels the human beings who had been going at Rodgers had been ‘unjustified’ and he is glad that the supervisor and the group have accomplished their talking on the area of play.

Brendan Rodgers helps Celtic win Scottish Premiership title

“Criticism is fine, it’s all section of the game,” said Rodgers. “It’s when it will become personal, that’s when it oversteps the mark for me.

On whether or not he felt it grew to be personal: “Yes,” replied Rodgers. “No doubt. I truely showed, from the twenty sixth of August, the headlines have been negative. I sincerely confirmed the guys today, earlier than we got here here, the story that used to be created all season and the narrative. All the a range of people and all the more than a few headlines. Some have been professional and some were personal. I have continually stated we write our very own story.”

Lennon stated: “You have to deal with two things, sometimes. You by no means like the non-public stuff and it’s uncalled for. You can see that he is justified in, he’s bit his tongue and the line of the season for me was ‘we will write our very own story’. I thinking that used to be very telling from Brendan’s factor of view and the team’s factor of view. He has completed and the team has done, so he is absolutely justified in coming and pronouncing ‘look at me now. I have delivered’. When human beings are coming at you, for me, at times, it’s unjustified, due to the fact of the expectations and the requirements the membership has set over the years, when you don’t reach those standards, it’s as if the house has fallen down. That’s exactly what he used to be trying to say.”

Celtic v Rangers in the Scottish Cup final

One greater left and the double will be achieved for Celtic. Players like Joe Hart will choose to bow out on a excessive due to the fact this will be the remaining game of his expert career, although some assume it’s a mistake.

Celtic have overwhelmed Rangers three instances this season, so the entirety suggests that every other trophy ought to be headed to Parkhead.

This is a large game for Rangers and Philippe Clement because, after a shiny start, it’s starting to fizzle out for him and he is but to win a big game.

So, from a psychological standpoint, beating Rangers once more will filter thru next season and put big pressure on these from Ibrox because it has been a whilst seeing that they won a meaningful sport in opposition to Celtic.

Joe Hart is ‘irreplaceable’ for Celtic, as Chris Sutton pleads with outgoing keeper

Hart is set to hold up his gloves after subsequent Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final showdown towards Rangers.

Chris Sutton has once once more entreated Joe Hart to make a retirement U-turn and remain with Celtic for another season.

The veteran keeper made his final Parkhead look as Brendan Rodgers’ facet marked trophy day with a 3-2 win over St Mirren. Fans paid tribute to hart with a 2d half of banner and he used to be given a standing ovation as he was once subbed off late on for Scott Bain. Hart also lifted the trophy alongside skipper Callum McGregor, and will be targeting some other winners medal after subsequent weekend’s Scottish Cup Final clash in opposition to Rangers.

Hart stated after the game that physically, he feels he ought to maintain taking part in but desired to go out at his peak. He said: “I wanted to commit for the three years and supply everything. I received to a point in my lifestyles the place I used to be potentially on the way out and obtained any other opportunity. I don’t want to push that luck, I prefer to finish strong, in a distinctive place, in a distinct club.

“That’s just me – it’s my time to move aside and let someone else have some fun. It’s honestly now not physical, I sense fine. But I felt like this was the right moment. I felt absolutely uncomfortable understanding however not telling the supervisor or the lads. I wanted to say it, and for every person to recognize that I used to be doing it and make sure I labored challenging and used to be at my height when I finished.”

However, Sutton reckons the have an impact on Hart has had on Celtic capability he need to significantly think about inserting on the clubs for one greater campaign. He wrote in his Record Sport column that if he was in Brendan Rodgers’ shoes, he’d be attempting to persuade Hart to sign on for one greater year. And now he’s advised BBC 606: “The trouble with Joe Hart – I say an trouble – he has delivered so lots to Celtic.

“Joe is 37 now and no longer only has he been a exquisite goalkeeper, he has been such a leader from day one. He’s a large participant for them and has been indispensable for Celtic, mainly the longer the season has gone on.

“i suppose he is irreplaceable, I in reality do. He’s had that tons of an impact. I get what Joe’s saying, however when you have so much to offer – c’mon Joe, do a u-turn, do the right thing.”

Lawrence Shankland ‘disrespect’ slammed as John Robertson brings Pat Bonner to task over the ‘Celtic way’ rejection

The BBC pundits clashed after Bonner claimed Adam Idah and Bojan Miovski would be better Champions League suits for the Hoops.

John Robertson has accused Pat Bonner of being ‘disrespectful’ to Lawrence Shankland by claiming he wouldn’t healthy into the ‘Celtic way’ of playing.

The Hearts skipper bagged his thirty first intention of the season in a thrilling remaining day 3-3 draw with Rangers. The Jambos, PFA and SFWA Player of the Year is out on his own as the top scorer in the united states of america and a shoo in for Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad heading to Euro 2024 in Germany.

Former Hoops keeper Bonner was once requested which of Shankland, Adam Idah or Bojan Miovski he would signal for Celtic, and he claimed that Idah and Miovski would be higher fis for Champions League football, no matter neither having played in the competition. He wasn’t sure if Shankland had it in his sport to close down gamers at the best level. He instructed BBC Sportsound: “Well he is aware of what Adam can do. That’s an advantage there. He is aware of what he’s valued at. I think Miovski would be one that you’ll possibly be questioning very intently about because of his pace and he scores goals.

“The element about Lawrence Shankland is that he will score goals, no doubt about that, for a team that’s performing here in the league. He will get probabilities to score. But when it goes into the higher stage in the Champions League, when from time to time you are below the cosh, you would possibly get one or two chances. But you have to work very, very difficult up front. Close human beings down and all of that.

“I’m not certain Lawrence would have that piece of his recreation to healthy what the expectations might be. That would possibly be the wager the place you might no longer go for Lawrence Shankland. A lot of massive groups would be searching at that section of it all.

“He can score goals, however I’m no longer sure if he should match into the Celtic way of playing, in the way that Miovski might do and Adam Idah already proved.”

However, Tynecastle legend Robertson was having none of it. The man who has scored greater league dreams for the Jambos than all people else hit returned at Bonner with a listing of Shankland achievements and reckons he’d rating dreams for any team in any league.

He replied: “I assume you’re being a wee bit disrespectful to Lawrence Shankland if I’m being truthful guys. To say he is not received the pace? Well he’s scored domestic and away towards Celtic, he’s scored domestic and away against Hibs. The big games.

‘He’s scored greater desires than any different striker in Scottish football towards the identical opposition. So why would not he score dreams for Celtic? You’re pronouncing he does not have tempo – you don’t necessarily have to have tempo to rating 31 goals. You’ve obtained a goalscorer.

INVERNESS, SCOTLAND – APRIL 19: Michael Stewart (L) and Inverness’ sporting director John Robertson during a cinch Championship match between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium, on April 19, 2024, in Inverness, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

“Might he now not be desirable for European football? He’s scored dreams for Hearts in European football. Yes, in a lesser match you may want to say, however he is nonetheless scored. He’s scored a aim for Scotland in Georgia away and he’s going to function prominently in the European championships.

“I do not prefer Lawrence Shankland to go away Hearts. I hope he’s right here every other season and I hope he signs and symptoms an extension, that would be fantastic.

“I assume you’re being disrespectful by means of announcing he wound’t healthy into the Celtic way. The guy’s demonstrated it closing season and this season with nearly 60 goals. So I suppose he matches into any team.

“Celtic may appear for a slightly distinct kind of striker. Someone who runs in at the back of – Kyogo is very good. He; sharp and run sin behind. Adam Idah and Miovski are greater comparable in that way.

“But Shankland is a born goalscorer who will score dreams for any team in any league.“

Watch Sky Sports jubilation as Celtic lift the SPFL trophy

Joe Hart used to be front and centre of the celebrations as Celtic were crowned champions of Scotland for the 54th time.

Back in February the former England internationalist ended hypothesis about his future by announcing that his taking part in profession would end in May when his Celtic contract expired.

There would be no final pay day in the MLS or Saudi Pro League, it used to be all systems go as he seemed to signal off his career as a winner at Celtic.

Through tons of February and March the odds have been lengthening on Celtic triumphing the title however after a 3-3 draw at Ibrox on April 7 the title used to be very an awful lot in the palms of Brendan Rodgers’ side.

🏆 “Celtic are champions of Scotland 𝘼𝙂𝘼𝙄𝙉!”

The moment they’ve been waiting for as Callum McGregor lifts the #cinchPrem trophy ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CRFq1yGpy4

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 18, 2024

On Wednesday away to Kilmarnock a 5-0 win secured the SPFL title with the clock rapidly ticking down on Hart’s legendary career, Rugby Park was his ultimate away day.

Today he said farewell to Celtic Park, two first half of dreams from Mark O’Hara denied him a smooth sheet however replies from Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma ensured that there was once a prevailing end to Hart’s league career.

Straight after Palma’s aim Hart was given a hero’s ship off as Scott Bain took his place but there was nonetheless more to follow.

Soon after the last whistle there used to be that exceptional moment, the reward for efforts over 38 matches, coming thru the challenges and setbacks to finish up with six wins on the bounce, accumulating 10 factors from four Glasgow Derbies.

Not many gamers achieve the connection that Hart has managed with the Celtic support, after three eventful and profitable seasons his area in Celtic folklore is secure.

It was once the ideal send off, the followers and the goalkeeper made the most of the afternoon with some in no way to be forgotten scenes.