Neil Lennon Predicts Another Treble as Hibs Stand in Celtic’s Way
Neil Lennon understands the intensity of the Old Firm rivalry better than most. Having won a Treble in his first season as a Celtic player and securing 12 major trophies in total, he later added 10 more as a manager, including a clean sweep in the 2019-20 season. Now, with Rangers already eliminated from the Scottish Cup, Lennon believes Celtic will sense a prime opportunity to chase a ninth domestic Treble.
While he doesn’t expect Hibernian to pull off a second upset in 15 days when they face Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final, he is convinced Brendan Rodgers’ side will view this as a chance to make another statement in Scottish football. Lennon believes the gap between Celtic and Rangers has widened significantly, and this match presents an opportunity to reinforce their dominance.
Hibs, led by interim boss David Gray, arrive at Parkhead boasting a remarkable 15-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including last week’s thrilling 2-1 win over Celtic at Easter Road. However, Lennon believes that defeat will only fuel Celtic’s determination to reassert their position as Scotland’s top team.
“With Rangers out of the competition, Celtic will smell blood,” Lennon said. “Hibs won’t roll over, and they’ll see this as a huge opportunity, but Celtic losing last week will give them added motivation to make a statement: ‘We’re the number one team, we’re the big boys here.’”
He also praised Celtic’s squad depth, noting that regardless of who starts or comes off the bench, the team maintains high standards. Lennon highlighted Rodgers’ strong squad rotation, pointing to how impactful substitutions were in their recent win over St Mirren.
Lennon Impressed by Arne Engels’ Transformation
One player who has particularly caught Lennon’s eye is record signing Arne Engels. The £11m Belgian midfielder had a shaky start to life in Glasgow, struggling for consistency. However, Lennon has been impressed with his recent performances, noting his improved defensive contributions and overall game.
“Earlier in the season, he wasn’t doing the dirty work defensively,” Lennon explained. “But he’s improved a lot in that area. He made a great challenge in the second half against St Mirren, showing how far he’s come.”
Lennon believes Engels’ performances in Europe have boosted his confidence, particularly in matches against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. He pointed to Engels’ involvement in Celtic’s second goal against Aberdeen as an example of his development, highlighting his driving run and link-up play.
“He’s got a great delivery, whips crosses in brilliantly, and his game in tight areas has improved massively. He’s playing with a lot of confidence now,” Lennon added.
As Celtic aim for yet another domestic clean sweep, Lennon believes their hunger, squad depth, and emerging talents like Engels will make them difficult to stop. However, Hibs will be determined to defy the odds once again in what promises to be a thrilling cup showdown.
