NEIL LENNON hopes Ronny Deila will get a chance to experience the unique European nights at Parkhead after edging Celtic closer to a Champions League spot.
The Scottish champions battled their way to a 0-0 draw in Baku last night as they booked their place in the play-off round with a 1-0 aggregate win over Qarabag.
Celtic will discover who they will face in the final qualification stage tomorrow as Deila bids to take a seat at Europe’s top table at the second time of asking.
And former Parkhead boss Lennon reckons it would be another significant moment in the Norwegian’s fledgling managerial career.
He said: “When he says ‘we are developing’, I think he includes himself in that as well, as well as the players. It would be great for him on a personal level.
“To take Celtic into the Champions League is very special and you have all those great nights to look forward to.
“In terms of his own progress as a coach and a manager, it would be great to see them in there and he could test himself against the best.
“I think the hardest test is still to come. You can almost get there but you have got two very important and difficult games to come.”
It was a nervy night for Celtic at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium as they had to battle the intense heat and shocking pitch to keep their Champions League dreams alive this season.
In the end, Dedryck Boyata’s header late in the first fixture at Parkhead last week was enough to send Deila’s side through to the play-off round.
Celtic had chances to kill the tie and make life easier for themselves in Baku but Lennon was delighted to see them complete the job as they took another step towards the group stages.
He said: “You can see what it meant to the players after the game.
“They negotiated a difficult tie when you consider they had the pitch to deal with, the conditions, the opposition and a pretty lenient referee at some stages.
“I didn’t think he done Celtic any favours at all. It is brilliant, it is exciting and I think they will be better for it.
“When the draw comes out and they play the next round, they will be fitter and sharper and they have got a great chance of qualifying now.
“In the cold light of day when Ronny does analyse it, I don’t think he can be overcritical.
“They were away from home, they done the job the team set out to do.
“He can put that away and then concentrate on looking forward to the final qualifier.”
Celtic have conceded just one goal in their four European matches this term as they have overcome Stjarnan and Qarabag so far.
Keeper Craig Gordon was once again instrumental for the Hoops as he pulled off a superb first half stop and marshalled his defensive unit.
And Lennon has hailed the 32-year-old for once again proving his class as he continues to perform at a high level after a barren spell out of the game.
He said: “It shows the value of having a top class goalkeeper, particularly away from home in Europe.
“It is important they make big saves at big moments and Craig Gordon over the 12, 13 months he has been at Celtic has proven that.
“He came in and trained under the tutelage of Stevie Woods. I had more or less gone about the week before and he did a bit of training with Stevie, who felt he was good enough to go.
“I don’t think anyone, maybe not even Craig, could envisage how well it has gone. It is a remarkable story when you consider he has been out of top flight football for two years.
“To come back and play at the level he is playing at his testament to his character and his talent.”
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