Charlie Mulgrew recently shared an amusing story from his time at Celtic, recalling how Neil Lennon’s tactical approach once backfired during a UEFA Champions League match against Juventus in the 2012/13 season. In the first leg of their last-16 tie at Parkhead, Lennon emphasized to his players the importance of neutralizing Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, suggesting that the midfield maestro’s legs had “gone” and that he was no longer the same dominant force.
However, as Mulgrew explained on the *Open Goal Podcast*, this approach quickly unraveled. Juventus took the lead just three minutes into the match, with Alessandro Matri scoring after some brilliant play orchestrated by none other than Pirlo himself. Juventus went on to win 3-0, with Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic adding to the scoreline in the second half.
Mulgrew’s recollection highlights how Lennon’s attempt to downplay the threat posed by Pirlo didn’t quite work out, as the veteran midfielder proved to be a pivotal figure in Juventus’ commanding victory.
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