BRENDAN RODGERS gave a detailed update on the ongoing Dedryck Boyata fiasco this evening after it emerged that the Belgian World Cup star did not travel to Lithuania with the Celtic squad. Instead he may have been at home watching two god awful sides Vidi and AEK Athens play off for a 40million pounds Euro jackpot.
That game finished 2-1 to the Greek Champions who will now be huge favourites to finish the job in Athens next week. And all you can say about AEK is that they weren’t very good – Vidi were awful and surely even Boyata, with his eye on his own huge financial windfall from a move away from Celtic – the sooner the better – will have realised that Vidi would have presented Celtic with an unbelievable opportunity to make the Group stages.
If only you went to Athens, Dedryck.
“There are still issues around him physically. He has a problem with his back, which he struggled with last week. If he’s not right then I can’t afford to play him,” Brendan said at the Celtic press conference in Lithuania this evening.
“I need the players who are mentally and physically right for these important games. There is an interest in a number of our players, not just Dedryck. Once we knew he wasn’t ready, I had to focus on the team.
“Dedryck had a meeting with the captain and myself, we all spoke about where we were at and that we wanted to move on.
“We felt if he was ready to do that and commit to our work then, of course, we only want good players.
“But, more importantly, we want good attitudes. That was something which was made clear.
“Dedryck has trained the last few days with the squad but deems himself not ready physically to participate in the game.
“I have to move on quickly and prepare the players who want to be here and are physically right to play the game.”
Boyata’s move to Sevilla or anywhere else that can be sorted is now a priority.
“I don’t think there are any doubts this is a difficult situation. Some players deal with it differently. It’s up to the individual. All you can do is guide and advise.
“I spoke to him on Tuesday because I wanted to know what he was feeling. It was a difficult week for him and his team-mates and I didn’t want it for a group that has been so spirited and strong.
“I have to put players on the pitch who will be ready to fight for the shirt.
“My job is to protect the team. This is a group which over the last couple of years, and still remains, one where we have no frauds in that group.
“We try to take out as much of the risk in terms of bringing in the wrong types as we can to preserve the spirit within the group.
“I respect and understand this period is so emotional for players, especially because you have sums of money now these players are being offered which are vast now.
“It’s not just a small jump, it’s a significant jump.
“And if players feel there is an opportunity and it’s a short career then of course they have to ask the question, so I understand it.”
Brendan was asked the all important Boyata question – has he played his last game for Celtic, but ducked the answer, which is fair enough as to confirm what we all know would reduce the transfer fee still further.
“I don’t even think about that, to be honest,” Brendan replied.
And the Celtic manager confirmed that he has taken no for an answer from Aberdeen so has ended his interest in signing Scott McKenna. Celtic had a #3.5million bid rejected this morning and were told the player was not for sale. Rodgers reckons that is fir enough.
“Aberdeen are in a strong position. He has five years left on his deal he is a young player.
“Probably similar to the likes of ourselves with Kieran, there was no way we were going to sell in this window and that was the message we got from Aberdeen. That would end that.”
