Boss Brendan spitting mad

Brendan Rodgers let rip at Maribor minger Erik Janza after the defender was accused of spitting on Leigh Griffiths. Celtic’s boss (left)

was furious after the full back gobbed on the striker just before half-time in the 0- 0 clash which ended the Hoops’ Slovenian tour.

Rodgers said: “The fullback spat at Leigh Griffiths. It was disgraceful. Leigh challenged for the ball and was strong and aggressive.

“The full back spat at him. I just told the referee he should never have been on the pitch. But he said that he never saw it.

“These games are meant to be friendly in nature but that is not on.”

Rodgers was raging at the incident but he also has a Champions League sweat over Stefan Johansen.

The midfielder hobbled off af ter hal f an hour. The Norwegian – a £ 2million target for Galatasaray – is now facing a race to be fit for Tuesday’s second qualifying round clash with Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar.

Rodgers said: “We will send him for a scan in the morning.

“He felt something in his ankle in the warm up so we will have to wait and see.”

Rodgers declared his side ready to start the crack at the Champions League after two weeks in Slovenia.

The Hoops squad will jet out to Gibraltar today having ditched plans to return to Scotland first.

Rodgers said: “We have been here 12 days and the players have been working on fitness.

“The key thing is to ensure defensive organisation is spot on. We’ve got a lot of areas to work on but in four games we have only conceded once from open play.

“We need to be much better with the football. That will come over time. But overall we showed good fitness levels and, into the second half, we were dynamic – just missing the final touch.

“I have an idea for a team for Tuesday. I’ve been trying to assess players.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I know the team are. We’ve got a few days to go.”