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Football

03rd Nov 2024

‘You are not a Celtic supporter’ – Brendan Rodgers slams culprit of online team leak

Ryan Price

Despite the disruptive communication, Rodgers’ side trashed Aberdeen at Hampden Park.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hit out at the person who leaked his team online just hours before their Scottish League Cup game against Aberdeen.

The Hoops hammered Jimmy Thelin’s men 6-0 at Hampden Park, helped by a stunning hat-trick by Daizen Maeda.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Daizen Maeda of Celtic acknowledges the fans while holding the match ball after the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on November 02, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

That performance was under threat of derailment hours before kick-off, when Rodgers’ starting line-up appeared on social media for the second game in a row.

It also happened before their Premiership victory over Dundee in midweek and the manager has vowed to find the mole within the camp.

Speaking to Sky Sports during his post-match conference, the former Liverpool boss said: “It’s obviously clearly disappointing. It’s something that we’ve seen before, and it’s not ideal, however it comes out.

“In the modern game, there’s no real secrets in football,” he added. “That’s the reality of it. But it’s not nice when it gets out there. And especially if it’s out from Celtic supporters.

“It might feel great for someone’s ego to put it out and pass it on to other people. But I can tell you as a manager that I’ve had that before with other teams. And when I’ve got to know about it, it has really, really helped me in my preparation.”

He continued: “So whoever is putting it out, if it’s someone from Celtic, you’re not a Celtic supporter.

“You’re not a Celtic supporter because you’re not helping Celtic. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not a Celtic supporter, we will do everything we can to find out.

“But for me, I don’t get angry about it,” added the Northern Irishman. “It’s just the modern world now, isn’t it? There’s so much communication. There’s so much out there.

“It won’t dampen our performance and our achievement, which was absolutely brilliant.”

Banging in six goals yesterday sets Rodgers’ side up nicely for their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig at Parkhead on Tuesday night.

“It’s exciting for us. We needed to and wanted to make a really good performance today. And we’ve done that,” said the 51-year-old.

“Now, we’re playing against a top team from a great league so it will be another challenge for us. But it will be absolutely rocking at Celtic Park, so we will look forward to that.

“When Celtic really need a result, our fans can bring it closer to us and hopefully that will be the case on Tuesday night.”

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