Lennon counting on Euro zone to let players flourish

It is not the £10 million pot Lennon remembers from his, and Celtic's, first foray into the Champions League in 2001-02. It was the 4-3 defeat of Juventus on an epic night at Celtic Park that brought the curtain down on a remarkable group. The number "nine" also jostles for attention in Lennon's memory: that is the total of points earned by Martin O'Neill's team, yet they still did not qualify for the next phase.

The Celtic team Lennon played in soon earned the perennial right to be on Europe's elite stage, with a Uefa Cup final appearance thrown in for good measure when they missed out on the group stage, as they did in 2002-03 after Basel knocked them out in the qualifying round.

Now Lennon wants his players to follow his lead. If Celtic can protect the 2-0 lead secured in Helsingborg last week when the sides meet in Wednesday's second leg of the play-off, then the class of 2012 will share in the "Holy Grail". And Lennon can look forward to his managerial baptism in the Champions League, just as his mentor did in 2001.

Asked whether money or pride motivates footballers more when they hear the Champions League anthem, Lennon pointed to the latter. "The most important thing is for the players to play in it," he said. "This will be one of the reasons why they came here and it justifies them coming here. It was the highlight of my career. Some great nights, even away from home when we lost, they were brilliant games to play in. You are playing against the best clubs in the world."

That is no idle boast. Celtic's group in 2001 contained Juventus, who lifted the trophy in 1996, and FC Porto, who would do so in 2004. "There were different systems to play against, but all were real quality," recalls Lennon. "We lost our first game 3-2 to Juventus in Turin and beat them 4-3 here in the last. We faced Rosenborg, who were phenomenal, so physical in terms of athleticism, while Porto were just at the start of their glory era. Those were great learning curves for us.

"We got nine points and did not qualify. That total would have qualified in nine other years. One season, Rangers did it with seven. Look, I am not saying we will do anything if we get through. More than anything, it is just about the enhancement of the players from my point of view."

Goals from Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras in Sweden last Tuesday have given Lennon's side a real chance of ensuring progress when the teams meet again in the east end of Glasgow. The Celtic manager, though, prefers not to get ahead of himself, even citing 2001 to back up that argument, too.

"The tie has still to be won," said Lennon. "I know everyone has us in the Champions League already. I do not. We still have to play a really tough game. Helsingborgs proved they are very good opposition.

"My own experience was the Ajax game in the qualifying round in 2001. We were 3-1 up from the match in Amsterdam then Ajax scored here and it made it very fraught. The players would just have to adapt if that scenario arose. I would hope we play on the front foot, and take the game to Helsingborgs."

A key figure in that strategy will be Emilio Izaguirre. The attacking left-back has shown signs of rediscovering the form that made him Scotland's Footballer of the Year in 2011 before he broke his leg at Aberdeen last August. Izaguirre may have grown up in Honduras, but he is part of the global fan club the Champions League can count on, and even recalls watching Lennon and Co tame Juventus.

"It has always been my dream to play in the competition," said Izaguirre. "As a kid I watched Celtic and Real Madrid games on television. In Central America, everyone watches the Champions League. I saw Celtic play against Barcelona and Juventus. I always remember the 4-3 victory over Juventus. Chris Sutton and Lubo Moravcik played very well. I was on my own at home because my parents were working."

Izaguirre and Lennon both hope Celtic can complete their Champions League job on Wednesday night.