Celtic Boss Reveals Sir Alex Ferguson Influence

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has revealed that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been giving him 'little bits of advice' to help them in the Champions League campaign. The former Hoops captain said he is grateful to the Scot for taking the time to help in the small ways he can.

"Sir Alex Ferguson came up to see us for a few hours one afternoon and he took time out of his heavy schedule to visit me and my backroom team, and throughout the campaign we've been in touch, little bits of advice on what to look out for, and for a young manager, he's fantastic that way," Lennon told the club's official website.

"He's always willing to help, and he's gone out of his way at times to help us, not in a huge way, but just little pointers in the right direction," the 41-year-old added.

Lennon's Celtic grabbed the attention of the football world after their historic victory over Barcelona at Park Head earlier in the campaign. The Scottish team qualified second from a difficult group, finishing ahead of Benfica and Spartak Moscow. As Lennon points out, the plaudits have been pouring in.

"I've had a lot of well wishes, and people congratulating us on reaching this stage of the tournament," the manager said, "Obviously our win over Barcelona captured the imagination of a lot of people."

The Hoops take on Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg being played in Glasgow tonight. The Scottish champions, much like against Barcelona, go into the game as underdogs but will be hoping for a shock victory against the Serie A leaders.

Lennon acknowledges the challenge that faces his team, with Juventus boasting some of the world best talents. However, the Northern Irishman is savoring the occasion, especially his battle against one of Italy's top managers.

"We're going up against a great team with a great coach, and it's very exciting for me to challenge myself against Juventus and Antonio Conte," Lennon continued, "But it would be dangerous to underestimate Celtic. We've proved already this season that we can be a match for anyone."

The tie will be one for the history books, with both teams seeped in culture and tradition. Celtic's passionate support is likely to be in full voice, creating spectacle for both sets of players and onlookers from across the globe. Hopefully, for Celtic, Ferguson's advice can give them the edge in this wonderful occasion.