Celtic have stood by Neil Lennon so far but speculation continues to surround the manager’s future
Celtic fans were cautiously optimistic after the Mirror reported that Rafa Benitez would be their next manager.
Neil Lennon remains in the dugout for now, but pressure has intensified on the boss during a season that has seen the champions dumped out of three cup competitions while falling 23 points behind Rangers in the title race.
Supporters reacted positively to the Benitez link following his departure from Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional, but it now appears that their hopes could be dashed.
According to the Independent, Benitez is “unlikely” to move to Scotland, with a return to the English Premier League his preferred option.
They claim that Benitez, who won the Champions League during his time with Liverpool and also managed Newcastle United, has been contacted by a number of European clubs.
Their report says: “Neil Lennon is in deep trouble at Celtic but Benitez is unlikely to go to Scotland, even if it presents a chance to rack silverware.”
Celtic legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has offered his backing to under-fire Lennon, writing in the Sunday Post: “From the outside looking in, at times it looks as though Neil has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Being a manager is such a pressurised environment, particularly at a club like Celtic, where the demands are sky-high.
“I don’t like to see anybody suffer in the way Neil is suffering right now.
“On a human level, nobody should have to go through that. But, through it all, he seems to want to carry on.
“Whatever you think of his media conference last Monday, Neil was brave and came out fighting for the club, and his players.”
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