Celtic's 63-game unbeaten run "means nothing" said Tony Cascarino on Monday night. The former Ireland international believes Celtic are lightyears ahead of other teams in Scotland but are "still not a great side".
Speaking on Talksport, Cascarino offered a draw with Rosenborg, a loss away to Astana - "who are from Kazakhstan" - and home and away defeats to Bayern Munich, all in the Champions League, as evidence of Celtic's weakness.
Neil Lennon has been one of those to counter Cascarino's comments.
"It is disrespectful. How much Scottish football does Tony watch?" the former Celtic manager told the Daily Star.
Lennon, now managing Hibs, said that he has watched football in the Championship which has proved not just tough viewing - it has made his eyes bleed.
There is still that rawness here. There is still that passion. It’s still a working-class sport up here.
You don’t have too many prawn sandwich brigades, who kill the soul of the game. I’ve been to a lot of grounds in England where the atmosphere is awful.
I’ve seen some absolute rubbish in England. Rubbish.
Over the weekend, there were three or four 1-0s. I watch some games in the Championship and the football is eye-bleeding, whereas I have seen some really good games up here.
He added that though Scottish football is lacking the TV billions and oligarchs of the Premier League, the game is gaining health.
To go 63 games at any level is remarkable. Celtic are an excellent side and they proved that with a few games in the Champions League.
We’re not getting the money the English clubs can get but the Scottish game is improving. It’s getting healthier. You only have to look at the calibre of manager working up here.
I find the competition and the quality of the games really refreshing. We don’t need people from down south lecturing us on how the game is up here.
