BOSS TELLS GRIFF IT’S NOT ABOUT ONE MAN
CELTIC Rodgers understands strike ace Griffiths’ frustrations but asks
EVEN as the goals start to come for Leigh Griffiths, there has still been a little rebuke from his manager.
If Griffiths released some pent-up frustration with his celebrations against Rosenborg and Kilmarnock – a more colourful version of “I’m the number 1” was the emotional cry from the striker on both occasions – his manager was quick with a word in his ear.
“It’s about humility,” said Rodgers. “It’s not about one person; this team is very much about the collective and he knows that.”
It’s not the only time Griffiths has been out of kilter with his manager.
The striker played second fiddle to Moussa Dembele over the previous two seasons but in light of the Frenchman’s acrimonious exit, there has been a clear path back into a more regular starting berth.
In recent weeks as Odsonne Edouard has struggled for goals, Griffiths has posted a reminder that he can be trusted to find the back of the net whenever he plays. The question of being trusted on other matters remains to be seen.
“I spoke to him on that,” said Rodgers with regards to his celebrations. “He doesn’t need to do that. I spoke to him on that and he didn’t do it the other night. He had about five other things he did. I was watching him. When he scored he pointed to his shirt, he made a heart, he blew a kiss, and he gave me a hug, so he got them all in in one go!
“I can understand the first time he did it, it was a bit of frustration really with everything: Celtic, Scotland, personal life, everything. I understand at times there’s a wee bit of frustration but I maintain he’s a good boy when his focus is right on it consistently, he will always score goals.”
Getting the ball in the back of the net will ease some of the vexations felt by Griffiths. But the striker, who netted 40 goals for the club in Ronny Deila’s final season, has been warned again by Rodgers that it isn’t only about scoring, it is also about rolling up his sleeves and chipping in with the less glamorous side of the game.
“I don’t need a number nine that just stands there,” said Rodgers. “It’s more than that. The team has to be synchronised in how it presses, firstly. The aggression in that. And from there we will create chances. But it’s good to see him smiling, getting his goals, working hard. That’s what we want.
“I think it all comes together with Leigh in terms of his fitness. He’s working hard on his actual physicality, because in this team you have to run with the ball and without the ball. And of course what he does naturally, and can do with his eyes closed, is score goals. His goal record is incredible really, his goals to games ratio at a club of this size.”
There has always been a suspicion about the relationship between Griffiths and Rodgers; the former’s lifestyle and application has been rumoured to be out of kilter with the philosophy favoured by the latter.
And yet it is impossible to ignore the instinctive qualities of Griffiths. The player is the most recent addition to the list of players who have scored 100 goals for Celtic – there was a gap of 13 years since John Hartson had penned his name onto it – and the signing of a new deal to keep him at the club