Celtic manager Neil Lennon said that leading the team to their ninth Scottish Premier League Championship in a row is the best achievement of his career. Lennon then explained that he wants to win an unprecedented 10th straight championship.
Celtic won the title on a points-per-game average on Monday when the Scottish Premier League ended the season.
Lennon said that the title is “fully deserved” and now he eyes further glory.
“Even when I took over and we got to eight, people were talking about 10,” Lennon said.
“We had to get the nine first and thankfully that’s been accomplished now.
We can go for 10 now, because I know that’s been on the tip of a lot of our supporters’ tongues.
The supporters are talking about 10, and we can now go for the 10.”
Lennon matched the nine-in-a-row titles of Jock Stein’s Celtic in the 1960s and 70s and the run that Rangers had from 1989-97.
This is what Lennon said when asked how this ranks among his achievements: “It’s the best, just the magnitude of it. It means everything to me.
I grew up on stories of that [Jock Stein’s Celtic] team. So to be here as the manager when we’ve won our ninth title in a row is very special.
When I got the job a second time I was under a lot of scrutiny. It has taken a lot of hard work, a lot of pain at times, a lot of pressure, but it’s all worth it.
It probably won’t sink in for a few days until the magnitude of it all grabs me.”
Lennon admitted that it is “surreal” not being able to celebrate with his players and staff because Scotland is in COVID-19-enforced lockdown.
Supporters were urged not to come to Celtic Park to celebrate but some ignored this and could be seen at the stadium’s main entrance.
Celtic had a 13-point lead over second-place Rangers with eight games left in the season.
“Of course it’s fully deserved,” Lennon said. “We won 26 out of 30 games, scored 89 goals, we were absolutely rampant throughout the season.
We were so consistent, played brilliant football. Even at the turn of the year when questions were being asked, they found the answers and smashed the second half of the season. As a squad they’ve been magnificent.”
