Brendan Rodgers found time to crack a joke about Scottish referees following Celtic’s 2-0 Europa League defeat from Valencia.
It was a flat performance from the hoops on the back of seven successive domestic wins with only the most wildly optimistic supporter giving their side any chance of making the last 16 of the Europa League.
Celtic got what they deserved from the match but there was no leniency shown from referee Ovidiu Hategan with the hoops having a couple of decent penalty shouts.
James Forrest was sent sprawling early in the first half, Odsonne Edouard was body checked on the edge of the penalty box late on while Timo Weah was barged off the park in the closing minutes.
None of those incidents fell into the ‘stone-waller’ category but on another day or perhaps with another club Celtic could have been given a penalty.
The Sun reports:
Speaking on Radio Scotland, Rodgers said: “I looked at it. He (James Forrest) has obviously gone into the box and you’d take it if you get it but I can see maybe why the referee didn’t give it
“I looked at one in the second half with Odsonne (Edouard) just sort of on the edge of the box where he got blocked off up the side of the box. But I don’t think they were clear. “
With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Rodgers quipped: “You’d maybe get them in Scotland.”
On Sunday Bobby Madden will referee Celtic’s visit to Kilmarnock.