The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Result would have been ‘different’ with Boyata
Petrov gives his take on defender after Athens defeat
Stiliyan Petrov believes it would be “very difficult” for Dedryck Boyata to return to the Celtic dressing room if he refused to play against AEK Athens on Tuesday night.
The Hoops defender missed the 2-1 defeat in Greece which saw the Parkhead club exit the Champions League before the play-off stage following a 3-2 aggregate loss.
Boyata posted a video on Instagram of himself receiving treatment, only for boss Brendan Rodgers to claim he was fit to play.
The Belgium international’s agent claimed Celtic had broken promises to his client and had said: “Entering the last 10 months of his contract, everyone understands that he cannot put his career at risk by playing even slightly injured or at 95%.”
Former Bulgaria midfielder Petrov, who played for Celtic between 1999 and 2006, said:”The Boyata situation has probably cost Celtic because he was a big part of the defence.
“I can only comment on what has been in the press, a lot of stories going back and forward, his agent, what Dedryck said, what Brendan said. “But they have definitely missed him. “If he had been in the team it would have been a completely different outcome.
“I think also missing (Moussa) Dembele, (Odsonne) Edouard and (Kristoffer) Ajer cost Celtic, big players for the club.
“But if he refused to travel, it would be very difficult for Dedryck to go back in the team.
“Firstly, you look at your team-mates because you let your team-mates (down), the players that you spend every single day with, most of the time. “So it will be difficult.”
Petrov was part of the Celtic side which dropped out of the Champions League in 2003 before reaching the Uefa Cup final, only to lose to Portuguese side Porto.
Asked if there could be a repeat journey to the final of European football’s second-tier competition, Petrov – at Celtic Park to publicise a fundraising charity match next month where his side will take on a team organised by Liverpool’s James Milner, with cancer charities the beneficiaries – said: “Of course, why not? I think Brendan Rodgers has a very good team.
“They still have a chance to get into the Europa League, which is still a good competition.
“Obviously it is not secret that he needs to strengthen his defence, and I think they will strengthen.
“The Europa League is a good opportunity, with the team he has, the style he plays. He has worked with his team for two good years so I think it could be an exciting season.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts will spend the season in Spain on loan at Girona.
Signed from Fulham in 2015 for a fee rising to £11 million, the 21-year-old has spent the previous two-and-a-half years collecting trophies aplenty on loan at Celtic.
Roberts had been linked with a return to the Glasgow club.
However, he will instead spend the 2018-19 campaign with Girona in LaLiga.