Neil Lennon: Celtic have this disadvantage ahead of the League Cup clash
By Aramide Oladipo
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon believes that Celtic players might experience fatigue in the upcoming League Cup clash next weekend due to their Champions League exploits.
The Hoops face a daunting trip to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday in the elite European competition before travelling to Hibs for the League Cup semi-final tie next weekend.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are currently sitting in second place in their Champions League group, level on points with Bayern ahead of back-to-back meetings with the five-time European Cup winners.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, former Celtic boss Lennon admitted that playing in midweek could go against the League Cup holders and it could work in Hibs’ favour.
“Any advantage we can take from it, we will have to,” he said.
“They’ll only have a day and a half to recover.
“The mental and physical approach, it’s really difficult, sub-consciously you are up there with Champions League and then you dip.
“Then you’ve got to try and pick yourself up again.
“Maybe the fact it’s a semi-final might make it easier for players to zip themselves up again.
“But even from my own experiences as a player it is difficult, in that short space of time, to recover as quickly as you’d like.”
The SPL champions have experienced mixed results on their return to domestic competition after European action, drawing against Hibs and St Johnstone at Celtic Park this season.
Lennon had to find the right balance during his four-year spell in charge at Celtic and he still managed to pick up five major honours as the Hoops manager.
If Celtic manage to overcome Lennon’s Hibs side next weekend, it could set up a potential Old Firm Derby in the League Cup final with Rangers facing Motherwell in the other tie.
In other Celtic news, the club are joint favourites to sign a left-footed midfield creator who has demolished the Hoops in the past.
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