Celtic face tough task qualifying, warns Lennon
The Scottish champions took the first step on their long road to the lucrative group stage of Europe's elite competition when they comfortably eased past Northern Irish minnows Cliftonville 5-0 on aggregate, following a 2-0 win at Parkhead on Tuesday thanks to goals from Efe Ambrose and Georgios Samaras.
Manager Neil Lennon says his Celtic side will need to show a drastic improvement if they are to progress further in this season's Champions League.
The Scottish champions took the first step on their long road to the lucrative group stage of Europe's elite competition when they comfortably eased past Northern Irish minnows Cliftonville 5-0 on aggregate, following a 2-0 win at Parkhead on Tuesday thanks to goals from Efe Ambrose and Georgios Samaras.
We will have to be better with our movement and crisper with our passing. In front of goal we will have to be a little more clinical
However, the Hoops will need to overcome much tougher opposition in the form of Elfsborg for a place in the play-off round of the competition. The Swedish champions, who won their second-leg match against Latvians FC Daugave 4-0 to progress 11-1 on aggregate, will visit Celtic Park on July 31 for the first leg of their third round qualifying match.
"We will have to be better," Lennon said. "We will have to be better with our movement and crisper with our passing. In front of goal we will have to be a little more clinical. We had 30 attempts on goal, so our shooting wasn't the best. But the back four are looking good at the minute and that is another clean sheet.
"But we are where we are because of the timing of the games. A week is a long time in preseason - it gives us time to recover. It's another game under their belts and then we will have some good work in training.
"The players know what is at stake. Judging from last season's game against Helsingborg it will be a big step up."
