NEIL LENNON has sounded a note of caution over labelling his Celtic side as favourites for their Europa League last-32 encounter against FC Copenhagen, calling the tie against the Danish champions ‘dangerous’.
Lennon was pleased to avoid some of the bigger guns in the draw in Nyon yesterday lunchtime, and with Copenhagen only emerging from their long winter break a few days prior to the first-leg of the tie on February 20th, he concedes that may give his side an edge on their opponents.
But he has told his players to ignore any temptation to treat their progression to the last 16 as anything like a foregone conclusion, with players like Nicklas Bendtner and Viktor Fischer capable of providing a threat to his side.
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“You can’t think like that,” Lennon said. “They are a really good side, experienced at European level. So, while it’s a good draw, you can also perceive it as a dangerous one.
“If people do have the idea that we are clear favourites, we have to shy away from that and just go and do a job.
“It’s a good draw. We have avoided the Champions League teams coming down and what you would perceive as bigger clubs. But it’s still a team with good European pedigree, whether it be Champions League or Europa League.
“So, we will see how we are shaping up when February comes. Copenhagen have their winter break now and it’s quite a prolonged one. So that may work to our advantage or it may go against us, we’ll just need to see nearer the time.
“You are hoping they will be a little bit undercooked, but you never know. But I think it’s a decent draw.
“We will study a lot of Copenhagen over the next few weeks. But logistically it’s a good draw. We don’t have to travel that far.
“Hopefully we will get a foothold in the tie over there before we bring them back here.
“It could have been better, but it could have been worse.”
Lennon has experience of Copenhagen’s Telia Parken Stadium having played there himself as Celtic were beaten 3-1 in Denmark on Champions League duty back in 2006. He also played in Glasgow against them that season, when a Kenny Miller penalty gave Celtic a 1-0 win.
Stale Solbakken, who has returned to the club as manager, as also in charge of the team in those games, and Lennon says that means Celtic are assured of a difficult tie.
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“He’s very experienced and is a bit of a cult figure there," he said.
“They were good [in 2006]. We beat them at Celtic Park in a tight game and then went over there when we had already qualified and they beat us 3-1. They were good that night, a big strong, powerful and athletic team.
“It’s a good stadium over there. I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating, or anything like that, but the facilities and pitch are good.
“Ultimately, I think it’s psychologically really good to have the second leg at home. We have earned that with topping the group.
“It’s been a good campaign so far and hopefully we can make further inroads.”
Some fans in Glasgow of course are already salivating at the prospect of both of the city’s representatives in the competition making it through to the last 16 and drawing each other, setting up the prospect of three Old Firm encounters in a week during March.
Lennon though was less enthused by such a prospect.
“It would be carnage!” he said. “I think I’d watch the games from Barbados!”
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