Neil Lennon warns Celtic to heed their own example as his mind races back to day of shock and awe

Neil Lennon has warned Celtic the best team don't always win Cup Finals and that they are best example of it.

Lennon was in charge for the 2019 League Cup Final that saw the 10-man Hoops do a number on Rangers at Hampden. Christopher Jullien fired home against the run of play with his side's only effort on target, before Lennon's men had to cope with going down to 10 men when Jeremie Frimpong was sent off, only for Alfredo Morelos to miss the resulting penalty.

That made it a 10th consecutive trophy for the Parkhead club and their fourth League Cup triumph on the bounce. Lennon admits the performance came as a surprise given their form going into the game, and that the mini 10-In-A-Row chance played on the players' minds. And he reckons he was due a rub of the green at Hampden after previous Cup Final experiences.

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"Celtic's form going into that League Cup final was brilliant," he told the Celtic Way. "We'd beaten Lazio who we were second in Serie A, home and away. We'd scored five against Hibs in the semi-final. We were flying. For whatever reason, we just didn't turn up against Rangers and it's hard to put your finger on that.

"You've got to give the opposition credit because they played well. I think the Celtic players knew that they were on a winning run of consecutive trophies. I think that was the 10th piece of silverware in a row. It was starting to weigh heavy on the players.

"We had to dig deep, we didn't play well at all. I think I was the owed one because there are a few other cup finals that I have been involved in where we have been the better team and battered teams and didn't win it. So maybe it was my turn.

"It has gone down in history as the Fraser Forster final. I mean, some of his performances in a Celtic shirt are probably the best I've ever seen. That day and his display against Barcelona were simply breathtaking. He was a big goalkeeper who produced big performances when it mattered.

"It could have been two-nil. Mikey Johnston had the freedom of Hampden Park and missed a sitter. We were down to 10 men when Jeremie Frimpong got sent off but we grew into the game and got more comfortable, believe it or not. Nobody remembers how you played as long as you win cup finals, especially against Rangers."

Lennon can't see past his former side at Hampden this afternoon. However, he knows more than most that a performance doesn't necessarily result in the prize come full time. But he reckons it will take something different from Rangers as what they've trying just isn't cutting it against their rivals.

"As for Sunday, it all depends. Rangers will have had a big game against Tottenham in the Europa League before that and Philippe Clement will have to think about the aftermath of that.

"I would imagine he would prioritise the League Cup final. If I was in his shoes, I would be thinking about that because it's huge for him. You have to make Celtic firm favourites because of that consistency and fluency that they have, but it's just all on the day.

"The better team sometimes don't win cup finals as was the case in 2019 but most of the time the best team wins these matches. Brendan's record at Hampden is tremendous. It's incredible, so Rangers have got that to think about going into this game too.

"It's all about how Rangers approach it. They've gone the same way a lot of times against Celtic and come up short and this time they may have to change it personnel-wise or maybe even tactically."