Rodgers brushes off ‘pack of cards’ claim

Boss says he retain his focus on ‘developing’ Hoops

Brendan Rodgers was not too concerned over Rangers chairman Dave King’s claim that Celtic’s domination would collapse like“a pack of cards” if the Light Blues won the title and qualified for the Champions League.

The Hoops secured their seventh successive Ladbrokes Premiership title recently and are on course for an unprecedented successive domestic treble.

King, who announced in a media briefing on Monday that the Ibrox club would be having a new share issue which would raise £6 million in new money, was also quoted as saying: “We only need one league. We don’t need two or three. We need one. Once we take one away, it’s a pack of cards.”

However, ahead of the Premiership clash with Kilmarnock tonight, Celtic boss Rodgers said: “We always respect every team and every club but I am not one to be looking over the fence at anyone else.

“We have to be defined by what we do and I could not be happier here with how the club is developing and improving – but we always have to be better.

“I don’t think of it too seriously either way to be honest. My focus is on Celtic, this is a huge job here.

“You always have to be aware of your competitors, you can’t be naive enough to not understand and have a little think of what the others are doing but it is not something that is at the forefront of my mind.”

Rodgers revealed that striker Odsonne Edouard is all but certain to miss the May 19 William Hill Scottish Cup final against Motherwell with a hamstring injury sustained in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Hearts.

The former Liverpool manager revealed striker Leigh Griffiths would join Edouard on the sidelines for the visit of Killie – who beat Celtic at Rugby Park in February – but is likely to be back for this weekend’s game against Aberdeen.

Meanwhile Killie attacker Jordan Jones has had a procedure to fix a twisted testicle and will miss the trip to Celtic Park.

Alan Power (calf) and Kirk Broadfoot (quad) remain out and Stephen O’ Donnell is extremely doubtful with an Achilles problem.

Picture: SNS Group.