LAY OFF SINC
Rodgers: Scott got stick but he played with injury that would KO 8 out of 10 players
Brendan Rodgers last night offered his staunch backing to Euro fall guy Scott Sinclair as he hit back at what he calls a crucifixion of his players.
Sinclair was hooked at half -time during Tuesday night ’ s dismal defeat to Anderlecht, the latest in a run of struggles the winger has had living up to his Player of the Year perfection last season. But Rodgers is convinced eight out of 10 players wouldn’t have shown the same character his man has by playing through the pain barrier for his club. The Hoops boss didn’t hold back on his own criticism of his men after another home Champions League defeat. Celtic might have finished third in their group and booked their place in tomorrow’s draw for the last 32 of the Europa League but the Anderlecht defeat raised more questions about the quality gap faced by the Hoops. However, Rodgers insists it’s time for a reality check by the critics, especially as so many other big Euro names fell short.
He said: “To be fair, Scotty has put himself out a few times this season when he wasn’t 100 per cent.
“He had a real bad knock on his ankle in our 5-1 home win over Motherwell.
“After that I’d say probably eight out of 10 players wouldn’t have made themselves available for the game on a Tuesday.
“But he wanted to help the team, even though he wasn’t at his physical best.
“B eing in t he Europa League draw is exciting though. It outlines how well our players have done.
“Ou r measu re, somehow, has been against the immeasurable PSG and Bayern Munich.
“The players have had criticism and hopeful ly a bit of reality settles in at some point and people respect and understand where we are in terms of modern football.
“We were the only club who came through from the Champions route and got into the Europa League.
“The clubs we should be measurable against, teams like Ajax who are still above in terms of everything else, didn’t qualify.
“Benfica, who are right in contention for the Portuguese league which you’d probably say was a much greater financially competitive league that ours, finished bottom of their group with no points. Borussia Dortmund got two points.
“Yet the criticism that the players and the club have received?
“We live in a critical world but 18 months ago this was a club who hadn’t qualified for a Champions League in three years, who f inished bottom of their Europa League group and never won a game.
“Now they have qual if ied for two campaigns with virtually the same players and now have made the step into the Europa League knockout stages, yet they’re being absolutely crucified. So we go into this draw with our own expectations and reality, knowing where we’re at.
“We know in terms of budget that playing against the Atletico Madrids, Arsenals and Villareals is a world away from where we are. But it doesn’t stop us going in with excitement.”
Rodgers stood by his assessment of his players’ failings against the Belgians but admits he should have praised them for their resilience.
He said: “I was disappointed with our lack of quality in the game, with the speed and decision- making, but I didn’t say anything to you that I didn’t tell the players.
“These players are brilliant for me and will continue to be.
“What I didn’t say, and which should be mentioned, is they showed resilience that maybe wasn’t there before.
“I spoke to the staff afterwards and we talked about three games that this team would arguably have lost in t he last 18 months.
“Hapoel Be’er Sheva, the guys that were here before were waiting for us to be put out, we weren’t, we came through. Astana, we had a bit of a panic when they scored four but we were able to f ind the resilience to get through and qualify for the groups.
“And then the other night, 1- 0 down, Anderlecht creating chances – we had to find a way. And we found a way.
“That’s a great sign for you as a coach and manager, that you can get there.”
The incentive of European football come February may well help Rodgers in his quest to attract new players in January.
But he insists it will only be part of the bigger package that Celtic have to offer.
He said: “It may well help but we want them here for more reasons than that. It won’t be the only reason.
“European football is only one of the attractions. Every player coming here will have hopes they can win medals and have the chance to play in the Champions League because it’s the level where everyone wants to play.
“There are lots of players that never get the chance to do that but there’s more than that for me that would attract a player to Celtic. It’s nice to be able to tell them there might be the chance though.”
Brendan Rodgers last night lost patience with his critics and warned it’s unfair Celtic are being “crucif ied” for their Euro exploits.
He reckons they should be measured against their peers’ performance and not slaughtered for losing to PSG and Bayern Munich.
The Hoops gaffer hit out after Scott Sinclair was singled out by snipers as the club’s Champions League campaign ended with a home defeat by Anderlecht.
Rodgers said: “We have made the step into the Europa League knockout stages yet the players are being absolutely crucified.
“Our measure, somehow, has been against the immeasurable PSG and Bayern Munich. Hopefully reality sets in and people understand where we are in terms of modern football.”