Neil Lennon has slammed Olivier Ntcham for disrespecting Celtic.
The Parkhead manager has vowed to speak strongly with the Frenchman over his outburst as he looks to engineer a move out of Parkhead.
Ntcham, who is subject of interest from Marseille and Porto, has stated disappointment that he didn’t get a move 12 months ago and that he needs to quit Celtic as he cannot progress in Scottish football.
Lennon the club and his team-mates are deeply annoyed and retorted: “I will be speaking to Olivier.
“The club as a whole, and the other players, are not happy with how he’s portrayed the club.
“We are not a stepping stone for anybody. These things can get lost in translation as such, but I am not convinced about that.
“I spoke to the players about it. I am not happy and the club isn’t happy.
“Olivier should be talking to us before coming out with comments like that. It doesn’t look good for him.
“For us, we sort of had half an idea he may be looking to move on but that should be kept private and we will discuss it when he comes back.
“It’s not hard for me at all. It’s hard for him.”
Ironically, Ntcham signed a new deal during last season and Lennon added: “It’s funny that, isn’t it?
“We hold all the cards here. As a manager, you don’t want to keep a player who isn’t happy but this hasn’t been driven by us. It’s been done by the individual.
“We have already spoken to his representatives and will sit down with him.
“When I speak to Olivier it will be done privately but you can imagine that we find the comments untimely and not particularly accurate.”
When asked if he was angling for a move, Lennon added: “I think that’s pretty obvious really.
“He’s still under contract. But I will be speaking to him about his mindset and his attitude towards the club as well. The way it came across did not look good.”
Ntcham isn’t with the Celtic squad for the’s Champions League opener against Sarajevo but Lennon insists the rest of his troops are as ready as they can be at this stage of the campaign for the clash in the Kosevo City Stadium.
New signing Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo is set to start at left-back with Kieran Tierney still in rehab and the manager is desperate to get the club back into the group stage.
Lennon has done it twice and said: “I think it is as good as winning a trophy.
“This is one of the toughest challenges as Celtic manager. We have no divine right and there is a realism there, but we believe we have the players to do it.
“They have experienced it before and I suppose you need a bit of a luck of the draw as you go along.
“When I played, we might have been straight in or maybe there was one qualifier to negotiate. Now we have negotiate four.
“I think we deserve better, but we’ll take it as it comes. These are the most difficult games. Group stage of the Champions League is fantastic, but the hard work is getting there.
“We could have had an easier draw. Sarajevo will be tough, but the guys know what’s at stake.
“I have never been to Sarajevo before, but I have heard a lot about it. I was reading up on what happened in the mid-1990s and it’s fascinating stuff.
“Do I feel stressed out? Not at the minute but I probably will at 7.45pm.”
Lennon, meanwhile, says work is ongoing on the signing front.
Record Sport revealed the current interest in Brentford ace Romaine Sawyers , while other key positions are also being hunted including right back.
Lennon said: “The work we are doing is non-stop. The phone is going constantly and we are trying to negotiate deals and find ones who suit the way we play.
“John (Kennedy) and Damien (Duff) were watching footage of players in the hotel in Sarajevo, so we are constantly looking.
“But we are fully focused on the game and the players know how important it is.”
Marian Shved and Jack Hendry will miss the tie after being left at home after picking up knocks.
