Celtic manager Neil Lennon warned his team will harangue the referee to “do his job properly” if Juventus” data-scaytid=”1″>Juventus defend too aggressively on corners.
The Hoops complained bitterly after the 3-0 first leg defeat at Parkhead that the defenders, above all Stephan Lichtsteiner, were too physical in their man-marking at set pieces and wanted several penalties.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon warned his team will harangue the referee to “do his job properly” if Juventus defend too aggressively on corners.
The Hoops complained bitterly after the 3-0 first leg defeat at Parkhead that the defenders, above all Stephan Lichtsteiner, were too physical in their man-marking at set pieces and wanted several penalties.
“No one minds physical contact,” said Lennon in today’s Press conference ahead of the second leg tomorrow night.
“I don't want to make a big issue of it, but the players will make the referee aware if it goes on again.
“I'm not taking anything away from Juventus, they deserved to win the game. But I did feel there were parts of the game that Juve should have been punished for, particularly at the corners.
“I watched the Napoli v Juve game the other night and Edinson Cavani was being pulled around quite a bit. We're just looking for the referee to do his job properly, that is all.”
Juventus Coach Antonio Conte joked about Lennon’s protests in his own Press conference today.
“At every corner, there is a Celtic player blocking the goalkeeper. That is systematically a foul as the rulebook says so.
“If Lennon is moaning about referees then he’s ready to work in Italy as everyone moans here. Joking aside, Celtic are doing really well and he is a prepared tactician.”
The referee for the second leg in Turin tomorrow night will be Turkish official Firat Aydinus, who will be in charge of only his fourth Champions League fixture.