This was the toughest title yet, admits Celtic boss Neil Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon celebrates the opening goal

Neil Lennon last night said managing Celtic to their eighth title was tougher than any of his three previous championships.

The Irishman was only appointed caretaker boss at the end of February following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden departure to Leicester City.

However, he said the exceptional circumstances of the move made it harder than anything he had ever done as a coach.

“I’m very proud,” he said after the Hoops’ 3-0 victory at Pittodrie.

“This is my second spell managing this club, and it is a privilege.

“I’m so proud of the players, the way they handled the occasion.

“It’s been the toughest piece of management I’ve had in my ten years of management.

“That’s just with the scrutiny and agitation and the discontent surrounding the club. We had to keep calm.

“I feel you need the hide of a rhinoceros but luckily I’ve got that!

“OK, some of the performance weren’t great, but they are unbeaten in eleven games so the standard is very high and the expectation is very, very high.

“We need – even the supporters – to take stock. This is eight titles. This hasn’t been done for a very, very long time.”

Lennon apologised to Derek McInnes after the Aberdeen manager was once again the target for sectarian chants – on the day he was banished to the stand for his response to previous abuse from Celtic supporters.

“I am disappointed, to say the least,” he said.

“I am disappointed for Derek, because I know what a great guy he is. He is a great football man with great integrity.

“I am sorry he wasn’t in the dugout today. I am a huge admirer of what he has done this year, and what he has done previously.”

McInnes, for his part, was philosophical.

“I have been hearing it for years,” he said. The question should be, are other people hearing it? It is not going to change – the biggest surprise would be if I hadn’t heard it.

“It is what it is. I think there has been a missed opportunity to send out the right message.”