The Hoops' stand-in skipper appeared to duck to avoid Arda Turan's 25-yard drive which beat Fraser Forster for the only goal of the game and the incident dominated most of the reporting of the penultimate Group I fixture.

The defeat means Celtic need to beat Italian side Udinese in their final game in a fortnight to qualify.

Lennon, whose side resume Clydesdale Bank Premier League duty on Sunday when they take on Dundee United at Tannadice, put up a stout defence of the Israel midfielder.

"Again, as I said last night, I think he just misjudged the flight (of the ball). "Beram doesn't duck out of anything so to accuse him of that is ridiculous.

"I don't know if these people actually see Beram play.

"He is one of the bravest players I've seen for quite a while and he puts his body on the line for the club and the team more often than not.

"I doubt it very much (if Beram feels bad). He was one of our best players last night and one of the best midfielders on show."

Kayal's part in the goal came on the day he was widely quoted as saying that Celtic had the best players and played the best football in Scotland.

The comments were assumed to be a swipe at Old Firm rivals Rangers but Lennon played them down and also played down the suggestion that the headlines will be pinned up on the Ibrox dressing room to be used as a motivational tool.

"Well, they might, they might not, I don't know," he said. "We have had stuff said about us in the past.

"Whether they are genuine comments or misconstrued or not, I don't know but I am not going to berate Beram for doing an interview and for people to then put their own slant on it.

"The headlines were par for the course. I'm not too sure he meant all of that.

"What he meant was he believes we have good players and a good team but we have to go out and prove that.

"I'm quite comfortable with Beram.

"I don't think he is that sort of lad to come out and boast about things or taunt people or anything like that, he is a well-grounded individual.

"I think some people are putting a little salt and vinegar on the story."

Lennon confirmed that Emilio Izaguirre has returned to full training but admits he has to keep the defender on a tight rein.

The Honduran suffered a fracture to his right ankle playing against Aberdeen in August and was originally ruled out for six months.

"He has a targeted a game coming up but my medical team have to be very careful with him," said the Parkhead boss. "He has been out with a long time and it was a complicated injury as well.

"He is just desperate to play, he always is.

"He is working very hard and his rehab has gone as well as we thought it would but it is difficult to put a time scale on it at the minute."

Lennon revealed that midfielder Joe Ledley, who was carried off on a stretcher against Atletico with an ankle injury, remains a doubt for the trip to Tannadice.

However, midfielder Victor Wanyama, who stayed inside at the interval with a dead leg, could be fit.

The former Celtic skipper said: "Joe may possibly make Sunday but at the moment is doubtful. But thankfully it is not long term.

"Victor should be okay."

Lennon responded to the confirmation that Jos Hooiveld had completed a permanent move to Southampton after the npower Championship leaders agreed a fee with Celtic.

The Dutch centre-back has signed a three-and-a-half year contract after an impressive loan spell.

"We had an offer which we feel is good business for the club," said the Irishman.

"He wasn't part of our plans and he had to go and play some football and now he has earned himself a move and credit to him.

"Jos seems happy there and we think we got good value and I'm sure Southampton will feel the same."