Thursday 19 September 2019 17:16, UK
Former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby says he is surprised by early criticism of Neil Lennon and insists he needs time to build a team in his own image.
Celtic's season got off to the worst possible start when they lost their Champions League qualifier against Cluj, with some of Lennon's summer signings still adapting to Scottish football.
Mjallby says Lennon himself will not be affected by the criticism that followed the Champions League disappointment as he continues to build his squad in his second stint at the club.
"No, not really because Neil is not a daft man, he's an intelligent guy," Mjallby told Sky Sports News.
"He knows what it is to manage Celtic, you are expected to get results and take the club to the next level in the Champions League.
"It's a difficult task now for Celtic to keep going for this trophy haul in the domestic cups.
"Lennon is now trying to build his own Celtic side, the Cluj game maybe came a wee bit too early for some of the new players - some of them showed they are terrific players against Rangers. That game gave a lot of confidence for (Christopher) Jullien and (Boli) Bolingoli.
"Lennon will always be a talisman for the supporters. They remember his time as a player.
"There is always going to be a worry from supporters when a person who has been the manager comes back. There's always this 'don't ever go back'.
"Neil is the perfect person, he knows the club inside out. His only aspiration is to make Celtic better."
Mjallby believes Steven Gerrard's Rangers are now legitimate title rivals for Celtic for the first time in years and believes their rivalry will help improve the standards of both sides.
"I expect it to be that way. It is good for both clubs that it is going back to this." he added.
"It is going to be so important that you don't drop points against other teams. The two clubs are going to be stronger from it.
"The questions about who is going to win the league will improve both clubs because they cannot sit on the fence, they have to be really good in recruitment as well.
"I have always seen Celtic as the favourites because they have this winning habit, the culture is there, they are a fearsome team in Scotland.
"We know that this is the first time Rangers are proper challengers to go all the way and really, really compete."
