Originally published at: https://www.67hailhail.com/news/celtic-boss-neil-lennon-states-formation-wasnt-the-problem-vs-copenhagen/
Neil Lennon has hit back at suggestions that Celtic’s formation was partly to blame for the Europa League defeat to Copenhagen. Three days on from the loss and it’s still raw for Celtic supporters. Copenhagen waltzed out of Parkhead with a comfortable 3-1 win despite Lennon’s side controlling much of the first half. There was…
Thursday night was an excellent opportunity to progress into the last 16 the atmosphere inside the stadium was superb when I read the team I wasn’t overly concerned this was the same formation that had served us so well in the group stages but as the game progressed especially in the second half it was plain to see we weren’t really at it.The manager maybe could’ve brought Leigh on before he did but at the end of the day errors cost us and I along with everyone leaving the stadium was gutted. But after a few days to get over the result we should all remain positive and get behind the team and remember we are still on for a quadruple treble. COYBIG
Neil Lennons assessment is spot on.
We dominated the game bar a 15 minute spell after the first goal was conceded.
Up until that point Copenhagen hadn’t had a shot on goal.
We on the other hand had had several which really should have been buried.
The goal was conceded not because of our Formation but because of a mistake by Šimunović and a slip by Jullien.
At no point up until that point did Copenhagen look like a side that was going through.
Profligacy in front of goal coupled with individual errors put the tie to bed.
Profligacy in both legs because we really should have been out of site by half time in the first leg and definitely out of sight by half time in the second.
Mistakes at this level do generally get punish in Europe.
One thing however that seems to have escaped the keen eye of most passing judgement on the Formation in this tie is the fact that we conceded the second and third goals whilst playing 3-5-2.
Losing the tie had nothing to do with the Formation,team selection or the Manager.
We lost it on bad mistakes and poor game Management by a side who generally do Manage games very well.
Those who suggest otherwise clearly do not have a full grasp of the game they are watching.
We have improved in Europe under Lenny and are moving in the right direction.
HH
See I would agree for the large part too. I can’t remember many of us moaning about the formation or the players selected either. Wonder if Ntcham’s absence maybe had an effect ont he formation?
I think we were in control with no notable flaws in it though. Going into the game I would’ve used the 3-5-2, but I wasn’t furious that we didn’t. If Jozo simply passes back to Forster with some efficiency then we’re probably going through. The game was so comfortable up until that point. I can’t remember N’Doye getting any luck before their opener.
Plenty moaning elsewhere David I was talking in general about the reaction online.
I also thought we might go with 3-5-2 but Lenny is more pragmatic in his approach and will change Systems to suit the opposition.
It is this flexibility in his approach that has worked previously at Celtic as you know.
I’m not going to go too hard on Jozo because both Ajer and Jullien have made mistakes themselves in recent games.
They are only human and will make mistakes after all.
The way we lost was very disappointing because both Lenny and the players know that they can Manage game’s better than they did and should really have been coasting by half time.
You can’t legislate for error but sure can screw the nut (as Édouard indicates after slotting the penalty away) and see the 90 out and reset for extra time.
HH
The thing is, those who complained about not using 3-5-2 have forgotten the Cluj game. Had we lost to Copenhagen with it ( we lost three goals with a more conservative formation ) people would be saying " Has Lennon learned nothing from Cluj ". It was individual errors.
The fans were subdued because rangers got through. We should focus on ourselves including Perth today.
Spot on.
Cluj incidentally were unlucky not to be in the draw themselves after VAR had a late goal chalked off in Spain.
Not quite the pub team some made out.