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Celtic fans will love what Joe Ledley has said about Neil Lennon ahead of Old Firm clash
CELTIC manager Neil Lennon will have his players fully ’psyched up’ for this weekend’s Old Firm clash with Rangers - according to ex-Hoops star Joe Ledley.
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Celtic host Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday as they look to increase their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.
Neil Lennon’s side are currently cruising their way to an eighth-consecutive league triumph, with Steven Gerrard’s side likely to finish the campaign without a trophy.
Joe Ledley, who played under Lennon in the Northern Irishman’s first spell at the club, has lavished praise on his former boss - and explained how Lennon behaves ahead of an Old Firm tie.
“Lenny was great in the dressing room before the Old Firm games,” Ledley told the Daily Record.
“His team talk would get you so psyched up for the game and hammering home what it means to the fans.
“You could see deep down how much it meant to him and then afterwards he would come in and hug you, tell you how much he loves you, how great you were and what a result it was.
“He’d speak to you one on one and tell you as a team and as players you love that in a manager and want to work under a boss like that.
“He was brilliant and doesn’t half get you up for the games. You knew it was totally different to any other game and there was a lot of pressure on you to perform and get the result.”
He’ll have the players up for the game, without a shadow of a doubt
Ledley, who is currently without a club after leaving Derby in the summer, has played against Rangers nine time in his career, winning four times - scoring twice.
The ex-Wales international has revealed his excitement for the derby - and backed Lennon to secure revenge for Celtic’s 1-0 defeat at Ibrox in December.
“He’s going to relish the occasion on Sunday with the cameras on him and things like that but he’s more experienced now and he’ll know what he needs to do to set his team up and get them over the line," he added.
“It will be great to see him back on the sideline and there’s no doubt he’ll have the players up for the game, without a shadow of a doubt.
Rangers: Players train ahead of Old Firm clash
“His character will shine through and you’ll see him on the touchline getting up for it and hopefully Celtic can get the win.
“I watched a little bit of the last one and it was a tough one after such a good run of results in the derby.
“The defeats are obviously hard to take but they’ll have learned from that and it’s time to go again.”
Celtic face Rangers in the early fixture on Sunday as they look to move one step closer to the title.