AN emotional Neil Lennon last night said his players had done club legends Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers proud by securing the club’s eighth top flight title in a row - then admitted that seeing things through after taking over from Brendan Rodgers has been his toughest assignment as a manager.

The Northern Irishman, who has now steered Celtic to four titles as manager, gave generous credit to the role played by his countryman in assembling this team but admitted he didn’t find it easy overcoming the “agitation and discontent” around the club when Rodgers left for Leicester in February.

With yesterday’s 3-0 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie enough to clinch the club’s 50th top flight title, Lennon has now gone eleven matches unbeaten as the club’s interim manager. He toasted the achievement with a cup of tea, rather than a bottle of wine, after a period where he admitted his emotions had been put through the wringer.

“It’s been the toughest piece of management I’ve had in my ten years of management,” said Lennon. “That’s just with the scrutiny and agitation and the discontent surrounding the club. We had to keep calm.

“I feel you need the hide of a rhinoceros and big cojones,” he added, “I’m not sure I’ve got those, but I’ve got the hide of a rhino!

“You just need to bat things away and concentrate. Okay some of the performances weren’t great but they are unbeaten in eleven games so the standard is very high and the expectation is very, very high.

“We need – even the supporters – to take stock. This is eight titles. This hasn’t been done for a very, very long time. So it is a special group of players and the fans should engage in that, not think about nine or ten.

“There was a lot of emotions and you want to pay tribute to Billy in the only way you possibly can and the players have done that today,” said Lennon. “Not only Billy, Stevie Chalmers as well. These guys were the pioneers, they set the trends and Billy was an icon.

“I ran out of superlatives for what he meant to me as a boy growing up here and as a player and a manager. He WAS Celtic for me and it is still pretty hard to take in that he is not here. You could see the emotion [at the funeral on Friday], it was a beautiful service and a beautiful send off, then a great day today. I want to enjoy the moment, normally I would go and have a bottle of wine, but I might just have a cup of tea and take it all in, because it has been tough. I am not going to lie.”

Typically, Lennon was sure to give a nod both to his predecessor, the backroom team which supported him and Parkhead power brokers Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond, who have given him a second chance in the role.

“I’m very proud. It’s a privilege to manage this club,” said Lennon. “It’s my second time doing it and these moments are for savouring. I’ve learned to do that as you go along, not to look too far ahead.

“But I have to give Brendan a huge amount of credit, I can’t forget that,” he added. “I don’t want to miss him out because he left the foundations and his legacy is very much intact here. From manager to manager I think we owe him a big debt of thanks.

“I came in to do a job and see it through, I can’t thank Peter enough for his advice, and Dermot, the two of them trusting me to do the job,” he added.” On the outside it probably looks easy to people but on the inside there was a lot of agitation and discontent around the club and I had to deal with it. It is credit to John Kennedy and Stevie Woods, Damien Duff as well, young coaches who have helped me through with the players."

In a way that perhaps typified Celtic’s class of 2018-19, there was some adversity to be overcome along the way, with only a fine save from Scott Bain from Sam Cosgrove effort keeping them on level terms before the first goal went in. He singled out goal hero Mikael Lustig – one of only two men who have been part of all eight triumphs – for praise. “I’m so proud of the players, the way they handled the occasion,” said Lennon. “We got a little bit sloppy in the first-half and my goalkeeper, Scott Bain – who has been unbelievable since I walked in the door – made an incredible save.

“The goal was then something we’ve been crying out for, an early ball in from Callum McGregor and Mika making a great run in. What a great player he [Lustig] has been for the club. This is his eighth title and he’s been an outstanding performer over the years. We never looked back after that. Then we actually scored from a corner! I’m thrilled about that. Odsonne then put the icing on the cake and it was a great second half performance.”

What black marks there were for Celtic were few and far between, although once again Kieran Tierney’s body was unable to withstand the full 90 minutes. “Kieran we will manage this week and manage it as we go along,” said Lennon, of a player who now has to be rated doubtful for the remainder of the season, including the Scottish Cup final. “But you can see he is struggling. He puts his body on the line for us time and again but eventually the kid is going to need a rest.”

Lennon also condemned the club’s supporters who even amid the party atmosphere chanted ‘Sad Orange b******” at Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes. The Pittodrie boss was seated in the stand after gesturing towards the Celtic fans during the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat.

“I am disappointed to say the least,” said Lennon. “I am disappointed for Derek, because I know what a great guy he is, he is a great football man with great integrity."

“I just got asked there if I heard it,” said McInnes. “Of course, I heard it – I have been hearing it for years. The question should be are other people hearing it. It is not going to change: the biggest surprise would be if I hadn’t heard it.

“It is what it is. I think there has been a missed opportunity to send out the right message. I served my punishment and will be glad to get back into the dugout next week.”