WINTEGRITY
Rodgers defends his Hoops players and says cups have been won with honesty and a sense of fair play
BRENDAN RODGERS last night insisted his Celtic players are no divers and don’t have to resort to dirty tricks to win games.
The Hoops boss (right) insists accusations thrown at his players Scott Sinclair and Callum Mcgregor over the past week are unfair because he knows they respect the culture of fairness he has instilled in the Parkhead dressing room.
Rodgers insists that winning honestly is more precious than winning itself and he puts that principle at the heart of his code of conduct within his squad.
So as Motherwell prepare to travel to Celtic
Park today for the third instalment of a stormy triology of matches – defined so far by acrimony over two penalties controversially awarded to the Hoops – Rodgers backed the integirty of his players.
He said: “If people have any issues with our behaviour remember we won the Fair Play Award last year.
“My notion has always been that the team always has to have values, and the first one is respect.
“There are three values in our team, respect, unity and excellence.
“All defined by the players and staff and I think how they’ve lived up to those values has been incredible.
“So we aim always to win but also, importantly, is to reinforce the values of the club, the team and always winning in a sporting way.
“That’s what we always try to do and if we draw a MOTHERWELL boss Stephen Robinson says the club’s appeal to the SFA referees’ chief is a waste of time that’s nothing to do with him. The Well gaffer (left) distanced himself from moves by the club to make game or whatever we have to be honest and move on. “I’m not offended by these accusations. People will always find a reason to be negative, or find a reason to lose or draw or whatever, but that’s OK. We know who we are. We’ve demonstrated that often enough, so our headlines are for the game and always will be. You lose track of what an official complaint to head of refereeing John Fleming over the two hotlydisputed penalty calls in as many games that have scuppered his chances against Celtic.
Robinson said: “People above me have gone and spoken to the John Flemings of this world but
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the reality is that it’s not going to change anything or reverse any decisions, rightly or wrongly.
“I just concentrate on what’s going on on the football pitch – that’s all I can control, my players and how they are going to prepare.
“Did I speak to John people are trying to say and it doesn’t bother us.
“Wednesday night was our first penalty in 14 league games, only our second penalty of the season.
“We were at the bottom of the table for penalties given before then yet I suspect, if there was analysis done, we’re probably in the box more than any team.
“I said after the League Cup final that I don’t think we get the penalties we should get.” Fleming? No. What for? He’s not going to change the referee’s mind or clarify whether it was right or wrong, they won’t do that.
“I’ve got enough to focus on in taking on a team that’s 66 games unbeaten without speaking to other people.”
Aberdeen Rangers Tomorrow, 12.30pm
v GRAEME MURTY has told Rangers players to start showing greater selfbelief or their days are numbered under a new manager.
The stand-in boss is likely to take charge of his last game at Aberdeen tomorrow before chairman Dave King is expected to make a move to lure Derek Mcinnes to Ibrox.
Murty’s parting shot is a sting in the tail, but he insists his assessment is delivered with the best intentions of the squad and club at heart.
He said: “To be a Rangers footballer you must have ability, character and a level that is commensurate with the club. “I see a level of performance and ability in the squad but training doesn’t matter. You have to go and put it into a performance and they can’t just do it once, but over and over again in a relentless manner.
“If they can do that, great, and if they can’t then I’m sure there will be changes.
“I’ve seen what they are capable of, but I just don’t know whether they believe in themselves enough.
“The players’ only job is to make themselves undroppable for the new manager. If they do that on Sunday I’m sure the next guy coming in will have a big smile on his face.”
Murty (above) will leave it late before making a decision on Alfredo Morelos’ fitness
Skipper Lee Wallace and midfielders Graham Dorrans and Jordan Rossiter are still sidelined. ABERDEEN boss Derek Mcinnes says he will continue to ignore the “sideshow” surrounding the Rangers vacancy despite fresh links to the Ibrox post.
It has been five weeks since the Portuguese boss was axed and Rangers have yet to make an official approach.
Mcinnes said: “Things get magnified by others but we are the professionals and we get on with the job,” he said.
“It’s always about the game. We just look at the next opponent.
“Everything else is a sideshow for everyone else to talk about.”