SCOTT FROWN
Celtic Dundee Tonight, 7.45pm
v BRENDAN RODGERS insists there is sheer envy amongst rivals towards Scott Brown as he stood up for his skipper in the wake of the shocking Andrew Davies stamp.
Brown has been the victim of red-card challenges in three of his last four games.
Rodgers reckons opponents and pundits can’t handle his ability and influence and he should be emulated as opposed to being targeted.
He said: “What I’ve found in my time here is that there is a lot of envy towards Scott. I see it in certain sectors of media, players and managers talking about him.
“There’s a definite envy of his ability and his influence.
“I think he’s a player who should be emulated. What doesn’t get spoken about with Scott is what a good player he is.
“Forget the descriptions and the envy. This boy is a top class player.
“Of course he has a personality that winds people up, but I had the same with Luis Suarez. Every ground you went to it was a carnival to get at him, but he would always perform.
“Browny is one of those players. If he plays for you you love him and adore him.
“If he doesn’t you think he’s a pantomime character.
“Listen, he is no saint himself. He has that mentality where he gives it out, fairly in my opinion.
“He is very aggressive, but that’s what you want. That’s what the best players are.”
Rodgers (inset) was angry at Davies’ challenge immediately after the contest. With time to reflect, the Celtic manager says the quality and reputation of the Scottish game will be diluted if such tackles are not stamped out or punished heavily.
Rodgers said: “You can see it sometimes where it’s a fraction mis-timed in the challenge. You get that.
“But when it’s to that level where you actually don’t want to look at it again? That shouldn’t be on a football field.
“What we have up here is a great product. “The concern for me is if it goes over the mark and crosses the line.”
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