‘Explosive’ Dembele out as Rodgers slams early schedule
BRENDAN RODGERS believes the explosive nature of Moussa Dembele’s play has led to another hamstring injury which will see him miss the first leg of Celtic’s Champions League second-round qualifier against Rosenborg at Parkhead tonight.
The 22-year-old French striker scored twice in last week’s 3-0 home win over Armenian outfit Alashkert which helped the Scottish champions to a 6-0 aggregate victory before limping off in the second half.
Rodgers said: “Moussa will probably be out for a couple of weeks – he will certainly miss both legs of this round.
“It is a minor strain. Sometimes the hamstring can be six to eight weeks but we have been told that this one is two to three weeks maximum.
“It is unfortunate because he has looked very good over pre-season but he will be back fit and strong.
“Maybe he has it once or twice a year. Sometimes you get that with explosive players.
UNFORTUNATE
“The players are into the season early. Moussa couldn’t have done any more. He came back lean and fit. It is just one of those unfortunate things, but he will be back soon.
“I feel for all the coaches and managers up here (Scotland) in terms of Champions League, Europa League and the (Betfred) cup games. They are expected to have players in full flow within one or two weeks of resuming training, which is unrealistic.”
Celtic have reached the Champions League in the last two years but face four instead of three qualifiers this season.
AEK Athens are waiting in the next round should they get past Rosenborg, whom they beat 1-0 on aggregate in the penultimate Champions League qualifiers last season.
The Norwegian champions will have new face in the technical area this
time after the club sacked Kare Ingebrigtsen and his assistant Erik Hoftun following their victory over Valur of Iceland in the last round.
The decision led to the Rosenborg players issuing a statement in which they “vehemently disagreed” with the move.
“Obviously the previous manager had great success and it sound like he built up a real bond with the players,” said Rodgers.
“For them to qualify and for him to lose his job was obviously a surprise and the support of the players and the supporters showed they weren’t so happy with the decision.
“However, the club has made the decision and the players and the new coach have to move on.
“It can work one or two ways. It can either galvanise the team or it can have a negative effect.
“But our concentration is very much on ourselves to do our own job and we will look to do that over the two legs.”
French striker Odsonne Edouard has shrugged off a knee injury in time to play, while Mikael Lustig, Tom Rogic and Cristian Gamboa are all in back in contention after World Cup duty.
However, Belgium’s Dedryck Boyata remains absent and Rodgers must also plan without Jozo Simunovic, who is suspended after being sent off against Alashkert last week, as well as Leigh Griffiths and Jonny Hayes, who are due to resume training tomorrow following thigh injuries.
CELTIC SQUAD: Gordon, Bain, Gamboa, Ralston, Tierney, Ajer, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Christie, Rogic, Allan, Edouard, Forrest, Sinclair, Kouassi, Johnston, Miller.