SEETHING Neil Lennon has hit back at former Rangers defender Maurice Ross after his EMBARRASSING comments about Celtic.
And the champions’ manager has demanded the coach, who is now at Motherwell, makes an apology to his players.
Lennon revealed Fir Park boss Stephen Robinson had phoned to say sorry after Ross shredded the Hoops players with his stinging criticism following the 2-0 loss to Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side at Parkhead on Saturday,
The ex-Gers player claimed the Hoops line-up was “the weakest I’ve seen from them in 20 years” while having pop at the fitness levels of second-half substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti.
Lennon, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I was surprised and very disappointed. Stephen Robinson contacted me to apologise profusely.
“He was unhappy. Sometimes you are guilty by association and it’s nothing to do with him.
“He found it embarrassing. Motherwell, as a club, have really good people there and they found it embarrassing, as well.
“And to be honest with you I found the comments embarrassing for Maurice, rather than for anyone else. It’s on him.
“He’s working, he’s an employee of another Premiership team and I don’t think he should be making any comment at all on any other team or any other players.
“The comments, in particular, on Ajeti, on Griffiths, on the money that Shane Duffy may or may not be on, I think was pretty abysmal.
“There is a professional standard, a professional etiquette, a professional respect and I think Maurice was lacking in all three of those.
“I don’t think he owes me an apology, he owes my players an apology, he owes my coaching staff an apology and I think he owes my club an apology.
“He owes his own club, that employ him, an apology.”
Ross slaughtered the champions during a radio interview and also stated Lennon’s side only had a basic knowledge of how to play their 3-5-2 formation.
He said: “As soon as I saw the team, I thought the writing was on the wall for Celtic.
“They brought a good squad, but probably the weakest starting eleven I have seen in the last 20 years. The formation played right into Rangers’ hands.
“Players win you games. Leigh Griffiths struggling for fitness? How long does he take to get fit? Ajeti? It takes six weeks to get fully fit, we’re months in now. How can’t you be fit?”
Lennon and his players may believe they have something to prove to Ross when they take on Well at Fir Park on Sunday November 8.
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