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"We played PSG a few weeks ago" | Here's what Neil Lennon learned

As most football fans have had to look on from afar while Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and PSG click int...



Soccer

"We played PSG a few weeks ago" | Here's what Neil Lennon learned

As most football fans have had to look on from afar while Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and PSG click into gear, Celtic manager Neil Lennon had the opportunity to come up close and personal with the Champions League finalists in a pre-season friendly. 

It will in all likelihood be a close-run thing, but Neil Lennon believes PSG have what it takes to defeat Bayern Munich and win what would be the club's first Champions League title tonight.

"We played PSG in a friendly three or four weeks ago," recalled Celtic manager Neil Lennon during OTB Sport's UEFA Champions League Final preview night in association with Pepsi Max and Doritos .

"We prepared for a couple of days and were 1-0 down after 55 seconds. Neymar picked the ball up, put Mbappe clean through and he did the rest."

PSG Kylian MBAPPE of PSG during the Paris Saint-Germain v Celtic friendly match at the Parc des Princes stadium on July 21, 2020 in Paris, France. PSG won 4-0. Photo by Anthony Dibon

A game that finished 4-0 in the French club's favour, although Lennon believed his side were in the game for long periods, he was astounded with what the star men of tonight's finalists could do.

"Kylian Mbappe was just out of this world," he explained. "I think he is going to be the star of that generation coming after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, if he stays fit. He is just a special player. He can win a game on his own."

To this end, and from what he has seen of PSG since the Champions League resumed, Lennon is confident that they will have too much for Bayern Munich.

"I just think defensively PSG might have the equipment to handle Bayern Munich," he noted, before touching on a weakness in Bayern's defensive structure that Kenny Cunningham highlighted on Off The Ball this week.

"I'm not sure if Bayern have the equipment, certainly on that right-hand side, to deal with Mbappe and the threat of Neymar because they have a problem at right centre-half.

"I just felt there was enough chances for Lyon in their semi-final with Bayern that it will encourage PSG."

You can watch back our full Champions League final preview show with Neil Lennon, Chris Sutton, Stiliyan Petrov and David Meyler right here. 

Check out OTB Sports UEFA Champions League Final preview across our social channels all weekend, in association with Pepsi Max and Doritos. It’s Back, Get Ready #UCLisBack

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Bayern Munich Celtic Champions League Final Kylian Mbappe Neil Lennon Neymar PSG Paris St Germain