Pundit reveals toe-curling Neil Lennon phone call as former Celtic boss wanted answers over Steven Gerrard claim

Neil Lennon once took Darren Bent to task after he said he'd rather play under Steven Gerrard in 2019.

That's a claim from the former England striker, who told talkSPORT all about an awkward phone call where the then Celtic boss sought to "clarify" some comments. Back then, Gerrard was only getting started at Rangers having just finished his first season in charge at Ibrox. Lennon, meanwhile, had just been handed the Celtic job on a permanent basis after taking over from Brendan Rodgers and steering the Hoops to a ninth successive Premiership title.

It was against the backdrop of that Gerrard-Lennon rivalry that Bent was asked by Football Insider who he'd rather play under. And Bent, who played with Gerrard for England, had a few choice words to say about Lennon - but was made to think twice after the Irishman was on the phone the next day asking for an explanation.

Bent said: "I used to do a column for Football Insider and I spoke about Lennon. They asked me a question: who would I rather play under, Steven Gerrard when he was at Rangers or Neil Lennon? I basically just said Steven Gerrard probably, because he's a young fresh manager, I've played with him and I know him.

"I said something about Neil Lennon. I said there was a bit of commotion at the time or something like that. The next day someone I knew texted me and said Neil Lennon's asking for your number. I said no worries, no problem at all. He calls me up and says 'I just want to clarify some of the things you said.' I just said exactly what I thought.

"But to be fair after that, I had to work with him on Soccer Saturday a couple of times, and he was the nicest guy. To the point where I felt 'I wish I hadn't said that now'."

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