FORMER Celtic boss Neil Lennon hailed Brendan Rodgers for masterminding a “perfect” win over Zenit St Petersburg last night.
The Hibs gaffer was quick to applaud the Hoops chief for his strategy against Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled outfit to set up an intriguing Europa League return in Russia on Thursday.
Lennon said: “I think he deserves an enormous amount of credit,
“The squad has been decimated by injuries and there was a lot of negativity coming into the game off the back of the Champions League campaign.
“He got the tactics bang on, he got the personnel bang on, he got the substitutions spot on.
“It’s been a perfect night for Celtic, really. 1-0, clean sheet, going into the second leg it gives Celtic a real foothold in the tie and that’s all Brendan could have wanted.”
Rodgers had to put together his masterplan without the services of Craig Gordon, Dedryck Boyata, Stuart Armstrong, Paddy Roberts, Jonny Hayes, Leigh Griffiths, Anthony Ralston and Marvin Compper.
Tom Rogic, who hasn’t played for two months, was on the subs’ bench last night, but wasn’t risked in such a high-tempo encounter.
