Rodgers hopeful of tying Gordon down
BRENDAN RODGERS revealed last night that he is “very hopeful” of getting Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon tied up on a new long-term contract.
Gordon was the subject of two failed bids from Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea before the January transfer window closed on Tuesday night.
The Scotland internationalist kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead which sent his side 25 points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Rodgers, whose team has now gone 28 domestic games undefeated, suggested the former Hearts and Sunderland man would be delighted the speculation over his future was over.
However, he reiterated what an important player Gordon, who has 18 months left on his current deal to run, was to Celtic and confirmed that talks over an extension to his contract had started.
“It’s been difficult for Craig because I don’t think he is built for all the stress,” he said. “I think he is a big,
laid-back calm guy and all this probably got on his nerves a bit.
“I have reassured him he is an absolutely massive part of what I am doing here. You see the level of his game, his composure, his quality.
“I’m very hopeful that very, very soon we will tie him down for longer here. He is a huge player in relation to how I want the team to operate.
“I’m sure it was stressful for him, but I think he will be delighted the window is shut. Getting Craig on a new contract will be our best signing. That will be our best signing once it is done.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers made light of deadline day speculation that Moussa Dembele, the French striker who is Celtic’s top goalscorer this season, was also set to sign for Chelsea.
Dembele was pictured on social media on a plane to London on Tuesday — sparking claims that he was poised to join the Stamford Bridge club.
But the 20-year-old, who has netted 20 goals in the 2016/17, is injured at the moment and was in England to undergo a scan on his knee.
“We had to make sure that the physio didn’t lose sight of him down there,” quipped Rodgers. “Ironically, the hospital he was in was in Chelsea, believe it or not.
“I said to Tim [Williamson] that he had to ‘be like Franco Baresi and stay tight to him’. But he [Dembele] was happy to come back. He is loving it here.
“The scan has come back very positive He got some fluid out of his knee and has had a good reaction to it. We will see how he is for the weekend. So, yeah, we can maybe relieve young Patrick of his centre forward duties.”
Rodgers singled out Dedryck Boyata, who scored the only goal against Aberdeen at Parkhead last night, for special praise after Celtic’s latest win.
“Dedryck was outstanding again,” he said. “He deserves all the credit because it was a difficult period after he came in from Man City.
“He has worked really hard in the last three months since coming back from injury. He’s been patient, he understands what I want from a defender and he’s a wonderful guy.
“Dedryck defends, he wins his duels and he’s aggressive. He plays it simple and he is a huge threat in the other box.
“It was a wonderful header, he got great applause from the crowd at the end. He was deservedly man of the match.”
Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, felt that the Pittodrie club had deserved a draw after competing well with Celtic for long periods of the game.
McInnes said: “There’s some disappointment, frustration and anger we didn’t take something from the game. The performance merited a point.
“I thought we showed great tenacity in our pressing. Celtic never got in to any real rhythm with their passing, which they are usually so good at.
“We did so much right in the game so to lose from a set play was so disappointing. I’ve seen it again and it wasn’t a free-kick.”