Manager Ouzounidis playing down rivals’ off-field troubles and Ajer ban

AEK Athens boss Marinos Ouzounidis insists Brendan Rodgers’ current issues at Celtic will have no bearing on tonight’s Champions League qualifier in the Greek capital.

Athens have the advantage following last week’s 1-1 draw at Parkhead and, amid preparation for the crunch return game, Rodgers’ apparent unease with the Celtic board with regards the club’s transfer policy has come to the fore. Moreover, the club is at loggerheads with defender Dedryck Boyata, who has not travelled to Athens.

But Ouzounidis, speaking at the Olympic stadium in Athens, said: “Yes, there might be some issues within the club but you are talking about a Champions League match and all these issues will become of minor importance when it comes to a Champions League qualifier.

“I have to say that Celtic’s manager is a great personality. I have been analysing the opponents and I have seen that he has been able to build some beautiful stuff inside the team. So both the coach and the Celtic players will put aside all the issues because they have a major chance ahead of them. This is what is important and as far as I can tell they will not be affected at all.”

Ouzounidis revealed that skipper Petros Mantalos, absent in the first leg due to injury, was due to be assessed after training yesterday.

He also played down the absence of Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer through suspension, although he was encouraged by what he saw in the game at Celtic Park.

He said: “They also have 0 Marinos Ouzounidis: Says Rodgers is ‘great personality’.

Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic and they both played in some of Celtic’s major wins last year, so they are great players with great qualities.

“We saw in the last match that when we exercised some pressure quite high then this might create some issues for their defence. It is quite reasonable at top clubs, great