---
title: "Celtic: Barry Ferguson believes that Hoops are a better team under Neil Lennon than Brendan Rodgers"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-barry-ferguson-believes-that-hoops-are-a-better-team-under-neil-lennon-than-brendan-rodgers/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-02-26T18:15:15Z"
modified: "2020-02-26T18:15:15Z"
---

# Celtic: Barry Ferguson believes that Hoops are a better team under Neil Lennon than Brendan Rodgers

**[Former Scotland midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/barry-ferguson/nationalmannschaft/spieler/10251/verein_id/3380) Barry Ferguson believes that Neil Lennon has improved Celtic over the past year after taking over from Brendan Rodgers in the Parkhead dugout.**

Wednesday marks the [one-year anniversary](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47371095) of the latter’s sudden departure from the Hoops to take the vacant Leicester manager’s job, with his fellow Northern Ireland native stepping up to take the reins at Celtic for a second time, having also been in charge from [2010 to 2014](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/mitarbeiterhistorie/verein/371).

Speaking on the [PLZ Soccer](https://www.youtube.com/user/PLZSoccer/videos) podcast \[via [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5321102/celtic-lennon-rodgers-rangers-ferguson/)\], Ferguson thinks that the Scottish champions have improved since Lennon replaced Rodgers as their manager, citing the [switch to two strikers following their derby defeat in late December](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371) as a seminal moment in their evolution.

He said: “Celtic are a better team under Neil Lennon than they were with Brendan Rodgers. I think they are more attack-minded and the thing I like about them is, after the Old Firm game on the 29th, they went away and worked on a system that I think suits them as well. You get two strikers up top – \[Odsonne\] Edouard and \[Leigh\] Griffiths look a real danger together. For me, Celtic are definitely a better team under Neil Lennon.”

Ferguson’s comments about Celtic being a greater attacking force under Lennon are quite justified when looking at the statistics from the current point of this season compared to a year ago. The Hoops have already struck [82 goals in 28 Premiership games](https://www.skysports.com/scottish-premier-table), having scored [66 at the equivalent stage](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/spielplan/verein/371/plus/0?saison_id=2018) of the 2018/19 campaign. As well as being much more prolific in attack, they have maintained a strong degree of defensive stability, conceding only one more league goal so far this season ([17](https://www.skysports.com/scottish-premier-table)) than at the same stage last term ([16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/spielplan/verein/371/plus/0?saison_id=2018)).

Another area where Lennon seems to have improved Celtic is in terms of European competition. The current boss led them to [top spot in their Europa League group](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50489724), masterminding the club’s [first competitive win in Italy](https://www.skysports.com/football/lazio-vs-celtic/report/420524) along the way, and has them well placed to reach the last 16 after [last week’s draw in Copenhagen](https://www.skysports.com/football/fc-cophagen-vs-celtic/421740). Rodgers’ Celtic [exited at the last 32](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/pokalhistorie/verein/371) in the tournament in the past two seasons, losing their away legs to [Valencia](https://www.skysports.com/football/valencia-vs-celtic/report/403961) and [Zenit St Petersburg](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43136856).

Ferguson also correctly highlights the Hoops’ magnificent form since Lennon’s tactical switch following the mid-season break. The manager had often gone with just [one starting striker in 2019](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371) but has [frequently played two up top since the break](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371), with Celtic consequently winning [each of their eight league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371). So far in 2020, Edouard has [nine goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/odsonne-edouard/leistungsdaten/spieler/344152) to his name, with Griffiths [scoring five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/leistungsdaten/spieler/45611).

Therefore, it’s not difficult to see why Ferguson believes that Lennon has brought Celtic forward since filling the void left suddenly by Rodgers this time last year.

***Celtic fans, do you agree with Ferguson’s belief that the Hoops are a better team under Lennon than Rodgers? Share your views in the comments section below!***