Glasgow: Celtic manager Neil Lennon said he was proud of his rookie Champions League players after they opened their Group G campaign with a goalless draw against Benfica at Parkhead.
The Hoops had 10 players making their Champions League debuts on Wednesday, with only captain Scott Brown having played in the group stage of the competition before.
Lennon himself was taking charge of his first Champions League match as manager, having led his side to the group phase for the first time in four years.
And the Celtic coach was pleased with how his side performed against a Benfica side who topped a group that included Manchester United on their way to the Champions League quarter-finals last season.
“We played with real zest and no fear against a class side, so it’s a decent start for us. It could have been better, it could have been worse,” Lennon said.
“We are learning as we go along. The players have sampled it now and they’ve had a feel of it.
“There were 10 players out there making their Champions League debuts against a very experienced Champions League side, so I’m very proud of the team.
“I thought we started the game very well and we played with a very good tempo and we tried to keep that tempo going the whole game.
“Maybe our final ball at times lacked that cutting edge but overall there were some fantastic performances out there.
“I haven’t set the side any targets but what I did say was if you are not going to win the game, don’t lose it, so we have learned something new.
“We have gained a point already so, like I say, it’s a decent start. That was their first test of Champions League football and the majority of them passed it.
“There are a lot of positives to come out of it and we move forward with a lot of confidence.”
Celtic have failed to win their opening group match in the Champions League in seven attempts and the home draw with Benfica means they will probably have to pick up points away from home if they are to qualify for the last 16 of the competition.
But Lennon knows this will be a tough task for Celtic, who have a terrible away record in Europe’s elite competition and whose group also contains Spanish giants Barcelona and Spartak Moscow.
“We know it’s a tall order with our history in this competition but this is a different team and they are capable of hopefully producing some kind of result away from home,” the Celtic manager said.
“It was a tactical battle tonight. I think Benfica will probably be the happier going away from the game but there wasn’t anything really between the teams.
“I think we would have lost that game this time last year. That’s five clean sheets in Europe this season and we’ve not lost a game in Europe since Atletico Madrid here last year.
“They are all positives to take out of the game but ideally, you would like to win your home games. It does make things a little more difficult for us, but it’s not insurmountable.
“I always felt we could compete and I hope that we have gained a little more respect tonight from the footballing world.
“I think Benfica went into the game as heavy favourites and in the end I don’t think you could have called the game tonight.
“It shows that we have a bit of depth in the squad to compete at this level.”
Favourites Barcelona top Group G after coming from behind to claim a 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow at Camp Nou thanks to a late brace of goals from Lionel Messi.
