IT was a night when Neil Lennon’s side made Celtic history with the club’s first ever victory on Italian soil. Goals from James Forrest and Olivier Ntcham gave the Hoops a well-deserved 2-1 win over Lazio, a result which also sees the team qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League with two group-stage games to spare.

Not surprisingly, the Celtic manager was proud of his team after an outstanding performance and a stunning victory, with the winning goal coming in the dying seconds of added time at the end of the game.

“I thought the team was absolutely unbelievable,” said Neil Lennon. “This team has a bit of everything. They’ve got guts, character and, above all else, they’ve got great quality.

“We went toe-to-toe with Lazio tonight. We didn’t start the game well, we were a bit passive and we got what we deserved to be a goal down, but once we found our way into the game, in the second-half we could have won the game by three or four.

“The game was open and we needed Fraser to make some great saves, but we had some great chances too and on the counter-attack we missed some great opportunities.

“I thought we thoroughly deserved the win and it’s just an unbelievable night for the club, an unbelievable night for the supporters who were amazing, an unbelievable night for me personally, but for the players, it’s all about them. They’re very, very special.

“We wanted to enhance the reputation of the club in Europe. The team is doing that at the minute and you don’t know where the boundaries are with this team.”

And as Olivier Ntcham bore down on goal at the end of the game, Neil Lennon had every confidence that his French midfielder would finish the move.

“I knew he would score,” the Hoops boss said. “It was a great ball from Odsonne, who was outstanding tonight, just breathtaking at times, and he deserved a goal for his play.

“And I just fancied Ollie. I knew he’d dink it and we needed him because they were trying to force the issue and we just needed some fresh legs on.

So not only did the starting 11 play well, but the substitutes made a huge contribution, and to win here and in the manner that we did is just spectacular.”

Neil Lennon hails history Bhoys after they complete the Italian job