Neil Lennon has warned Rangers that their impending American takeover will only make Celtic BETTER.
Talks with the US-based consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers are at an advanced stage, and success-deprived Ibrox fans hope the new owners will make Rangers great again.
But Hoops legend Lennon believes the Light Blues revolution will only whet Brendan Rodgers’ appetite for more silverware at Parkhead.
He told PLZ Soccer: “I would say Celtic will relish the challenge. I think it will make them better and even more motivated and determined to go again.
“I think it’s always important to freshen the squad up every year with new blood and freshness coming in. That’s exactly what I think Brendan will look to do, so I think there’s more exciting times ahead.
“They had a great European campaign this year as well at the highest level, that augurs well for going forward.”
Rodgers can become the first Celtic manager in history to lead the club to THREE Trebles if he masterminds a Scottish Cup Final win over Aberdeen next month.
Lennon – who completed a clean sweep as a player and manager at Parkhead – hit back at critics who have suggested a sixth Treble in nine seasons would be the most “tedious” of all time.
The Dunfermline boss said: “A tedious Treble? I’ve never heard something so ridiculous in all my life. I think it’s very, very special to win a Treble. This is the standard that Celtic have set now.
“People get disappointed if they don’t win a Treble, that’s how good they are. For people to come out with those sort of comments, you’re disingenuous.
“You don’t realise the lengths, studying, preparation and the sacrifices that managers, players and staff have to make to achieve all that.
“When Martin O’Neill won it in 2001, it was the first time that Celtic had won it for 29 or 30 years. Brendan’s come in and you are talking about doing it in three out of four years, it’s incredible.
“And it’s a testament to his management skills, his intelligence and his way of leading a team and driving the narrative for that team.
“It’d be very special when it comes and it’s a very difficult thing to do considering the competition.
“People might say there’s a lack of competition but that’s not on Celtic, it’s on the rest to compete and make it really difficult for them.
“And it is difficult. Every team raises the game when they play against Celtic week in, week out and you have to overcome the hurdles and the pressure that that brings and also the criticism when it doesn’t come.”
Serial-winner Callum McGregor suggested last week that Celtic’s remarkable dominance has been desensitised, and Lennon added: “People get disappointed if they don’t win a Treble, that’s how good they are.
“For people to come out with those sort of comments, you’re disingenuous. You don’t realise the lengths, studying, preparation and the sacrifices that managers, players and staff have to make to achieve all that.”
