Tuesday, 25th June, 2013
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has explained that his side will be totally motivated and will play as strongly as they can to record a win against Cliftonville in the second qualifying round of the Champions League in July.
Lennon, who hails from Northern Ireland, is also relishing the prospect of meeting the club from his native country, and has expressed his delight at facing the Belfast-based outfit.
Cliftonville won the IFA Premiership – the Northern Irish top flight – last season.
"It will be the first time I will have taken Celtic to a competitive game back home so that is something to look forward to, but we will be totally motivated, obviously, to play as strongly as we can and try and win the tie", Lennon told his club’s official site.
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"It´s a great draw – a great draw for Cliftonville as well I would imagine. It will create a lot of interest back in Belfast but I am very wary of the tie.
“I know Gerard Lawlor, the chairman, very well and I know he will absolutely delighted with the draw, and there will be a lot of familiar faces.”
Lennon – who guided the Celts to a domestic double last season – also explained that his side’s short-term priority is to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
"We have three ties this year and our short-term priority will be to qualify for the group stages, which would mean a lot to everyone associated with the club.
“I’m not expecting us to have the same impact last season but you just never know”, he added.
The first leg of the second round qualifier against Cliftonville will take place on 16th/17th July at Celtic Park, while the second leg will be played at Solitude in Belfast, on 23rd/24th July.
Celtic reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League last season, but failed to progress further than that stage following a defeat against Serie A giants Juventus, over two legs.
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