FOOTBALL SHORTS

CELTIC legend Packie Bonner has told Dedryck Boyata he badly let Brendan Rodgers down after failing to remember what his manager had done for him. The Belgian claimed on Tuesday that he wasn’t fit to travel to Greece for Celtic’s Champions League qualifier with AEK Athens — a version of events Rodgers flatly rejected after the aggregate defeat. And the former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said: ‘He owes the manager. You have still got to go and play your games. ‘There are always things going on in the background. But from a player’s point of view, you just get on with the job and let everything take its course. ‘You just keep playing as that’s what you are contracted to do. You get on with it. That’s the disappointment. ‘If he’s saying he’s injured and Brendan is saying he’s not, there’s obviously a conflict. It should never get to that.’

ATLETICO MADRID struck two quick-fire extra-time goals to see off city rivals Real Madrid 4-2 in last night’s UEFA Super Cup. Saul hit a sweet volley in the 98th minute before Koke made sure five minutes later. Diego Costa hit a brace in normal time for Atletio, both goals cancelling out efforts from Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos, who converted a 63rd-minute penalty. TOTTENHAM have agreed to let winger GeorgesKevin N’Koudou join German club Mainz on a season-long loan.The 23year-old, a peripheral figure under Mauricio Pochettino, is thought to be considering his options before transfer windows close across Europe’s major leagues at the end of the month. CROATIA goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, 33, who plays for Monaco, and Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic, 32, have announced their retirement from international football after helping the Balkan nation reach the World Cup final for the first time.