09 December 2020

Timo Weah backs Neil Lennon and Scott Brown to save Celtic’s season

09 December 2020

Former Celtic striker Timo Weah insists Neil Lennon and Scott Brown are still the men to get the Hoops’ 10-in-a-row quest back on track.

The Lille forward only spent five months on loan at Parkhead in 2019 – and only four of those were under Lennon.

But the son of former World Player of the Year George Weah saw enough from Celtic’s then caretaker manager and captain Brown to know they will not go down without a fight.

The USA international, who will come up against his old side when Celtic round off their wretched Europa League campaign at home to the Ligue 1 high-flyers, said: “The league race isn’t over until the last game. Celtic are an amazing team with amazing players and I feel they just need time.

“I feel they are going to do it and I hope they do because, having been a player there, I’d love to see them do 10 in a row.

“Each team has their ups and downs and this is just a down for Celtic at this moment.

“But I have full confidence in the coaching staff that they are going to sort things out. I know the guys, they are 100 per cent fighters. They are warriors over there, so I know they are going to get back on track.

“Scott has the ability to do whatever he wants and anything he puts his mind to.

“When I was at Celtic he was an exceptional captain, I enjoyed playing with him and he was the guy who pushed us. He pushed the team on when moments weren’t good, when we had a loss or difficult game then Scott would be the one who would pick us up.

“Even though he takes a lot of the criticism, he’s the one who gave us the best energy in the dressing room and on the field.

“Scott will do it for the team as he’s willing to do anything for the team.

“He loves the club and loves the guys he plays with. I feel it’s going to take time but they are going to do it, it’s going to happen.”

Weah was lured to Glasgow from Paris St Germain by Brendan Rodgers but found himself working under Lennon just six weeks later after Leicester made their controversial move to poach the Celtic boss.

He only started twice under Rodgers’ replacement and was allowed to return to the French capital early after making it clear he would prefer to turn out for the United States in the Under-20s World Cup than fight for a Scottish Cup final place.

But Weah insists there are no hard feelings, saying: “When I was at Celtic we had fun, training was fun and we were a winning team and top of the league. The coaching staff was amazing to me as a person and as a player.

“They took the time to work with me and the bond that we had as a team and the coaching staff was amazing. Neil was great to me, I left the club in a bit of a rush because of the World Cup and things happen, but overall he was a great coach and we loved him.

“He’s a top motivator, he was a player himself and he knows what it’s like to have difficult moments and to not be on your ‘A’ game.

“He was always there for us, this is just a moment where the team is down just now but he is the guy for the job and I know he’s doing it right.”

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