Scottish Cup final: Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic
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Neil Lennon has issued a warning to his former club Celtic, stating that "underdogs bite" as his Dunfermline Athletic team prepares to challenge for the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The former Celtic captain and manager expressed concern over what he described as a "disrespectful" narrative circulating ahead of the final at Hampden Park.
The Championship side secured victories against top-tier teams Hibernian, Aberdeen, and Falkirk en route to the final, which Lennon believes has strengthened their "inner belief".
"It's not a day out for us," the 54-year-old said.
"I've seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O'Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he'd have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble.
"I wouldn't dismiss us. We're the underdogs, but underdogs bite."
Dunfermline enter the final following the disappointment of losing their Premiership promotion hopes after a play-off semi-final defeat by Partick Thistle last week.
When asked if he was frustrated by those who have underestimated his team, Lennon responded:
"Yes. It just adds fuel for me, so it's great. It's disrespectful, which again, I don't mind.
"We will come - I wouldn't say brimming full of confidence - but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here. We're under no illusions as to how difficult that's going to be."
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Lennon revealed that striker Zak Rudden is expected to be available after more than three months sidelined by injury, and goalkeeper Aston Oxborough will return on loan from Motherwell after being temporarily recalled by his parent club.
The Dunfermline manager also described it as "disrespectful" to be labeled as Martin O'Neill's apprentice but acknowledged it will be a "surreal" experience to face his former manager at Celtic in such a significant match.
Lennon expressed no surprise at O'Neill's achievements this season despite his age and said he "couldn't have asked for anyone better to learn from."
"It'll still be surreal considering how long I've known him, what he's done for my career and what influence he's had on me," he said.
"I was very, very lucky that I had 10 years of Martin in his pomp. Everyone talks about what he did at Celtic. What he did at Leicester was incredible.
"Obviously getting promotion and then he had four top-10 finishes in the Premier League and three League Cup finals.
"He was on a fraction of a budget compared to the rest. If that was a modern day manager now, he'd be going to Bayern Munich or somewhere like that."
