LUSTIG HITS OUT AT RODGERS

MIKAEL LUSTIG has revealed that he let Brendan Rodgers know exactly what he felt about his mid-season defection to Leicester City. Rodgers abruptly quit Celtic for the Midlands club in February after two-and-a-half successful years in Glasgow. Despite delivering seven straight domestic trophies, including an unbeaten Treble in his first season, the manner and timing of the departure of the self-confessed lifelong supporter left a bitter taste in the mouths of many supporters. And in an interview with Sport/

Foot Magazine in Belgium after signing for Gent, Swedish international Lustig became the first of Rodgers’ former players to publicly criticise his actions. ‘At Celtic, we knew at the start of every season we had a good chance of being champions, but to do it for eight years in a row wasn’t easy. Every year, it was more difficult,’ he said. ‘I truly hope Celtic will reach the ten-in-a-row with all my heart. ‘For me, the most special title was last season because we won the Treble for the third time in a row, which had never happened in Scotland. ‘But I’m not a trophy collector — the most important thing was not the trophies but the recognition of people. ‘In terms of managers, Neil Lennon persuaded me to move to Celtic, so he is the most important coach for me. ‘Tactically, the best was Brendan Rodgers... a true perfectionist. ‘I only regret that he left the way he did. When you say you are a fan of Celtic, you do not quit the club in February. I do not approve of his choice and he knows it.’ Lustig, 32, won 16 trophies at Parkhead in an eight-year spell with the Parkhead side but was only offered a one-year extension to the deal that expired this summer. Expressing regret about the way in which the parting of the ways came about, he added: ‘Celtic will always have a huge place in my heart, but in football, we are not always alone in deciding. ‘They offered to keep me on and, come on, I respect the club too much to say bad things about it. ‘But I gave everything to them for eight years... I was expecting a little more respect in return. ‘My family and my ex-team-mates know what happened, that’s the most important thing.’