Spat with Dundee United just ‘fun and games’ says Celtic’s Neil Lennon
Neil Lennon has been in Scottish football long enough to understand how it works.
Scrutiny – and, routinely, exaggeration – surround the every move of those at either half of the Old Firm. Since he stepped into the role of Celtic manager last year, Lennon has been focused on more than most.
The Northern Irishman triggered headlines again this week after criticising the Dundee United manager, Peter Houston, and Rangers Steven Naismith.
Houston had defended the actions of Naismith, who dived in, earning a second yellow card during the Old Firmderby. Not for the first time, Lennon publicly hit out at comments from Houston; Celtic travel to Tannadice on Sunday.
Its fun and games, isnt it? says Lennon. We both have our opinions and I dont think anything less of Peter. He is doing a great job there. It is nothing personal. Sometimes that happens, it might be a clash of personalities. Things are said after games that probably, on reflection, you wouldnt say. He is just looking after his team and I am just looking after mine.
The pair will, Lennon insists, meet for a drink after the game. I always try to, with all the managers. Thats the etiquette of the game really, it should be part of it.
Further attention will shift towards Tayside given what occurred the last time Celtic played there. The now notorious case of Celtic being awarded a penalty, which was reversed amid circumstances that were lied about by match officials, will not be readily forgotten.
In the middle of all of that madness, Gary Hooper claimed a winner for Celtic in the dying minutes, with Lennons wild celebrations frowned upon by Houston.
He must have been hurting because we nicked it right at the death, Lennon says. Maybe the celebrations were over-exuberant, but its just the passion and emotion that was going on at the time, after what had gone on.
There had been a sense of injustice after what had gone against us earlier in the game.
We were protecting a winning run at the time and going into an Old Firm game. All those things sort of added to the pot really. I dont have a problem with it at all. He isnt the first person to criticise me, lets face it.
On the wider issue of coverage, Lennon is occasionally irked. The former Celtic captain is smart enough to know how what he says will be portrayed and tends to pick his targets deliberately.
They get awfully sensitive to criticism at times, he says of Scottish football as a whole. I think there is lot made of things.
People shouldnt read too much into it. Its good fun, it just adds to the spice of the game, thats all. Its good to have personalities in the game up here, because we have been crying out for some for a while.
Lennon regrets, though, any notion that he adopts a scattergun approach towards those he disagrees with. He wont alter his approach.
I dont think what I say is a lot different from any other manager. My point is, when I say something, because I am the manager of Celtic, it is headline news and Lennon rages.
You [the media] all see that I speak to you calmly and coldly, I just tell you my opinion on questions that get asked. These people ask questions, I try to answer them as best as I see it. Whether it upsets a few people, sometimes thats my intention because they have upset me.
People want to sell papers, want to make the headline as big as they can.
If you actually read the quotes, theyre not as bad as the headline. But we all know that anyway, its just the nature of the beast up here. It doesnt bother me in the slightest.
If I give an honest answer to a question as I see it, I dont have a problem with it.
They can make it out how they want to. But sometimes the context of what I say is slightly deflected.