Coach Lennon calls for Celtic Pride to sink Submari

Last updated : 09 December 2008 By Mikbhoy

Celtic's Champions League fate was sealed by a defeat in the Energi Nord Stadium in Aalborg two weeks ago when a late goal from the very fortunate Danish side meant elimination from all European competition but Lennon will insist to the team that there is still plenty at stake when they face Villarreal in Wednesday's group E match.

"The players are bitterly disappointed after losing in Aalborg. The most important thing a player can have is his own professional and personal pride." said Lennon "So whatever people might say, for us it's an important game and it would be nice to finish on a high. We're playing against a quality side, and any time you get that opportunity you should make the most of it."

"This is a chance to whet the appetite for next season if we could finish this campaign on a high. But professional pride should come into play and the

players will want to win the game as much as the coaching staff do." he added "Some of the performances this season have been very good. Villarreal away was decent as was Manchester United at home. Probably the 0-0 draw at home to Aalborg set us off on the wrong foot and we were always chasing after that. So long as the players are learning and can use that experience for the next time, hopefully they can draw on that and improve."

Coach Lennon also feels that Villarreal still have plenty to play for despite having already qualified for the next stage of the competition alongside Manchester United. The Spaniards are unbeaten in this season's competition and they'll want to preserve that record at 'Fortress Parkhead' and they also still have a chance of finishing in top spot in the table. "I'd imagine they want all three points," said Neil "But we just have to look at what we can get out of the game for the next four or five games of the season."