LEIGH Griffiths insists that he has a great relationship with Brendan Rodgers.
It would be unfair to describe it as love-hate but there has been a few strained moments between the ‘couple’ this season.
A double from Griffiths at home to Hapoel Beer Sheva in August put Celtic on course for the group stage of the Champions League.
By the time Celtic opened their campaign in the Camp Nou Griffiths was on the sidelines nursing a hamstring injury.
Muscle injuries and strains have been a feature of the striker’s season with his manager opening up on his frustrations towards the end of January.
With Moussa Dembele injuring his knee against St Johnstone Rodgers was frustrated that his back-up striker was again sidelined for important matches against Hearts and Aberdeen.
Griffiths was back involved against Sevco at the weekend and hoping that a new chapter, not the final one, is opening in his Celtic career.
“There’s been a lot of talk about rifts between me and the gaffer,” he explained to The Sun. “But I want to set the record straight me and the gaffer have got a great relationship.
“It’s unfortunate for myself I’ve been injured. It’s just been little niggling injuries that have been costing me but I’ve been working hard over the last few months in training to try and get free of them.
“Hopefully, I can kick-start my season now and be ready to go pre-season again.
“Of course, I respected what the manager said. I spoke to the gaffer behind closed doors and I knew what he wanted from me.”
HAMPDEN
After Sunday’s disappointment Celtic’s next big date is at Hampden on April 23.
Before facing Sevco in the Scottish Cup the hoops will wrap up the title as they complete the second leg of their treble bid.
Winning that semi-final will set up the season perfectly with Griffiths looking forward to his trip to the national stadium.
“Hopefully when we go to Hampden for the semi-final we can show everyone what we’re all about,” the striker said.
“We’d been playing well before today and it was just one of those things. Rangers made it difficult for us, but it’s another point gained.
“There was talk from both camps about what they were going to do to us, or what we were going to do to them but we were just focused on trying to get the three points.
“Rangers knew it was going to be a hard afternoon for them and if you had offered them a point before the game, they would have snatched your hand off.
“It was disappointing at the end, but we’re still unbeaten, we’re still in the hunt for that Treble.”