NEIL LENNON fears AC Milan are struggling in Serie A because they have decided to put all their resources into qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.

That could be bad news for Celtic, who must defeat the Rossoneri at Parkhead on Tuesday if their own ambitions of joining Barcelona in the knockout rounds are to be kept alive.

Lennon has warned his players not to be lulled into a false feeling of security because Milan are in the bottom quarter of their league.

He retains huge respect for the quality of their players, and the threat they bring to Glasgow.

Lennon points to the fact they have already defeated the Hoops, drawn away against Ajax, and are the only side in Group H to take anything from runaway leaders, Barca.

He said: " We're not being lulled into anything when they have got players like Kaka, Robinho and Balotelli. These are all internationals - and some world-class - players.

"They've probably saved their best performances for the Champions League. Milan will become more consistent in the league as the season goes on. But, at the minute, they are concentrating on the Champions League.

"So, I am very wary of them and I'm not looking at their league form as a barometer for Tuesday night at all."

Lennon is demanding his side focus fully on today's game against Aberdeen, even though James Forrest's recovery from a hamstring strain will mean he is kept for midweek.

But, Lennon knows Tuesday is the pivotal night of their Euro campaign,

In fact, he believes today's game against Aberdeen, the midweek Champions League tie and next weekend's Scottish Cup match against Hearts could shape their season.

He said: "It could define a couple of competitions in our season.

"And I want us to go into the Milan game feeling good about ourselves."

Not all of Lennon's focus has been on these games, however, and he revealed the latest round of talks with Joe Ledley over a new deal had brought no movement.

Lennon was dismissive of the criticism aimed at Scott Brown after he drew attention to himself again when playing for Scotland in Norway not only for his goal, but the off-the-ball kick at the ankle of Vegard Forren.

The Hoops boss spoke to his skipper after a similar incident against Neymar brought him a red card and a suspension.

But, Lennon - who highlighted Cristiano Ronaldo's head-butt on Mikael Lustig during their play-off as an example of even top players losing their temper - does not want to try and rid the player of what he describes as devilment, and just asks Brown to be more careful and circumspect.

"It's not for me to balance it, it is for him," said Lennon when asked how difficult it is to keep his passion and his petulance in harmony.

"I don't want him to lose that devil in him because it is an important part of his make-up. Take that away and you end up with a robot."

Meanwhile, Ajax have been fined £16,690 for the misconduct of their supporters during their Champions League game in Glasgow.

The Dutch club were accused of breaching the governing body's disciplinary regulations for "crowd disturbances and throwing of objects" by their travelling fans.

According to Ajax, the club will also be made to pay for the damage caused when fans ripped out seats at Celtic Park on October 22.