Neil Lennon has told BBC Radio 5 Live that Ange Postecoglou may need four to five more weeks at Celtic before any expectations can be made for the season.
The Australian’s spell as Lennon’s Parkhead successor has got off to a rough start after exiting the Champions League. Celtic lost 2-1 at Midtjylland in the second-leg of their second-round qualifier on Wednesday night, having been held 1-1 in the reverse fixture.
Celtic will now hope to progress in the Europa League when they face Jablonec in the third qualifying round. But attention will turn to the Premiership now, with a curtain-raising trip to Hearts on Saturday.
Yet no matter the result at Tynecastle, Lennon feels it is too early to place any expectations on Postecoglou at Celtic. The Australian still wants changes to his squad, including in goal, with Sky Sports citing interest in Ben Foster.
“Ange just needs time,” Lennon said. “I don’t [think] you can judge him until the end of the transfer window and hopefully there will be players brought in that he’d like, in the positions he wants. There are a myriad of reasons why things have panned out as they have done so far.
“But it’s way too early in the season to be making rash statements or rash judgements. It’ll take another four or five weeks before that Celtic squad is settled and ready for the campaign ahead. To hit the ground running can be an unrealistic expectation at times.
“The guy needs a bit of support and I think he’ll come good. And I think over the next three or four weeks, there will be business done that improves the squad. Because it definitely needs improving, there’s no question. We all know that.”
Postecoglou will want instant Celtic response despite Lennon’s call for patience
Postecoglou will want to see an instant response from his players when Celtic face Hearts, despite Lennon’s call for patience. The Hoops manager will desperately want to start the Premiership season strongly after failing to progress in the Champions League.
Challenging for Premiership glory will be fundamental to Postecoglou’s time at Celtic as Lennon’s full-time replacement. The Northern Irishman’s final season was a disaster as hopes of 10-in-a-row fell apart. The Hoops also endured failure in both domestic cups.
Postecoglou will hope to guide Celtic beyond the second round of the League Cup, where Lennon’s men exited last term. The Hoops were also later beaten in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, losing to Rangers 2-0. Records that Parkhead chiefs will want improved.
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