The suspend is killing us .. let Ajer play
GORDON’S VERDICT It’s hard enough to get through eight games to reach the Champions League groups. We play more games and run risk of bookings. It’s disadvantage not faced by teams who come in later Time to rethink
Craig Gordon is urging UEFA to ease their yellow card rule – because it’s hammering teams like Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers.
The Hoops keeper believes the sides that start in the early rounds of the contest are at a disadvantage.
Kristoffer Ajer is the latest to fall foul of the rule after picking up his third booking of the competition against AEK Athens in midweek.
That means he’s suspended for the second leg in Greece on Tuesday, with the tie balanced at 1-1 after the Parkhead match last week.
It’s a massive blow to boss Brendan Rodgers who now has to rethink his centre-back pairing.
Gordon said: “Kristoffer will be suspended for the return leg.
“It is a disadvantage that we have to play so many games and risk getting bookings – teams just coming into the competition don’t face that.
“It is a hard enough to get through eight games to reach the Champions League without the teams who come in later gaining another advantage.”
It was thought World Cup star Dedryck Boyata, subject of a failed bid from Fulham last week, would return to fill the void left by Ajer’s ban.
But the Belgian missed yesterday’s defeat at Hearts after a war of words erupted between his agent and the club – and he won’t travel with the Hoops to Greece.
Boyata helped Belgium finish third at Russia 2018 and Gordon admits it’s a blow to be without him again in Athens.
The keeper said: “Dedryck has done so well with Belgium. He played in all the group games and they were undefeated.
“All the boys were supporting him and sending him messages.
“Belgium went close and only just fell short against the eventual winners France.
“Perhaps if they hadn’t won against England to top their section they might have managed to get to the final on the other side of the draw.
“As it was they ended up going into the side that was loaded with all the top seeds.
“It was a good tournament for Dedryck and it’s good to see him back and working hard. He is a top defender. “He has everything you want in a centre-half. He’s big, powerful and quick too – his pace lets him get back to help the recovery.
“He will take confidence from Russia 2018 and doing so well. It shows everybody what he is capable of and what he brings to the team.
“But he hasn’t shown the lads his medal yet. He maybe doesn’t want to rub it in too much.”
Gordon is well aware of the size of the task facing Celtic in Greece.
The 35 year-old was in the Hearts team hammered 5-1 on aggregate by AEK in the Champions League qualifiers in August 2006. Gordon knows that while he could be in for a busy evening, at some point the Hoops must score to stay alive.
The goalie said: “We have to give ourselves that chance by not conceding and staying in the game as long as possible – but we will need to go for a goal.
“They way AEK dealt with going down to 10 men defensively and tactically was very good.
“They didn’t cause us too many problems but we gave away a cheap goal. It is all to play for.
“With an away goal, they are through if the second leg finishes 0-0. They could play defensive or they might want the reassurance of a goal.
“There is a lot to play for. It is a challenge now to go over there and we are going to need some big performances. We are going to have to defend well and I might have to make a few saves.
“We will give it a go and try to get a better result than we did at home.
“We have been in some difficult situations at times.
“We have been behind in some games and managed to come back and continue winning.
“We have gone behind in Cup Finals and won them so we know that if we stay calm and play our game, then we will give ourselves a chance.
“We know it is going to be difficult and that it is a big test to go away from home in Europe and win – but we have done it before.”