NTCHAM AND BLAST BY NEIL
SARAJEVO v CELTIC
FROM THE BACK PAGE subject of interest from Marseille and Porto, stated his disappointment he didn’t get a move 12 months ago and that he needs to quit Celtic as he cannot progress in Scottish football.
Lennon said: “I will be speaking to Olivier.
“The club as a whole, and the other players, are not happy with how he’s portrayed the club.
“We are not a stepping stone for anybody. These things can get lost in translation as such but I’m not convinced about that.
“I spoke to the players about it. I’m not happy and the club isn’t happy.
“Olivier should be talking to us before coming out with comments like that. It doesn’t look good for him.
“We sort of had half an idea he may be looking to move on but that should be kept private and we will discuss it when he comes back. It’s not hard for me at all. It’s hard for him.”
Ntcham had signed a new deal during last season and Lennon added: “It’s funny that, isn’t it?
“We hold all the cards here. As a manager, you don’t want to keep a player who isn’t happy but this hasn’t been driven by us. It’s been done by the individual.
“We’ve already spoken to his representatives and will sit down with him.
“When I speak to Olivier it will be done privately but you can imagine that we find the comments untimely and not particularly accurate.”
Asked if the player was angling for a move, Lennon added: “That’s pretty obvious really.
“He’s still under contract. But I will be speaking to him about his mindset and his attitude towards the club as well. The way it came across did not look good.”
Ntcham isn’t with the Celtic squad for tonight’s Champions League opener against Sarajevo but Lennon insists the rest of his troops are as ready as they can be at this stage of the campaign for the clash in Kosevo City Stadium. New signing Boli Mbombo is set to start at left-back with Kieran Tierney still in rehab and the manager is desperate to get the club back into the group stages.
Lennon has done it twice and said: “It is as good as winning a trophy.
“They have experienced it before and I suppose you need a bit of a luck of the draw as you go along.
“When I played, we might have been straight in or maybe there was one qualifier to negotiate. Now we have to negotiate four.
“We deserve better but we’ll take it as it comes. These are the most difficult games. The group stage of the Champions League is fantastic but the hard work is getting there.
“We could have had an easier draw. Sarajevo will be tough but the guys know what’s at stake.
“Do I feel stressed out? Not at the minute but I probably will at 7.45pm.”
Marian Shved and Jack Hendry will miss the tie after being left at home after picking up knocks.
Meanwhile, Lennon says work is ongoing on the signing front. Record Sport revealed the interest in Brentford ace Romaine Sawyers, while other key positions being hunted include right-back.
Lennon added: “The work we are doing is nonstop. The phone is going constantly and we are trying to negotiate deals.
“But we are fully focused on the game and the players know how important it is.”