Rodgers speaks out on Celtic winger controversy

Brendan Rodgers has opened up on a difficult couple of weeks for Liel Abada.

Being 22 years of age with a medium term injury in a foreign country is tough enough but the conflict in Israel has brought in a factor not covered by most coaching manuals.

With no club matches to report on there was plenty of space in newspapers to speculate on the future of Abada who recently signed a new long term Celtic contract.

For the best part of a decade the Green Brigade has expressed their backing for Palestine with Celtic’s next home match likely to be played against a backdrop of the Palestine flag.

Rodgers has had to deal with a variety of issues during his time in management, today he was required to touch on an international crisis in amongst chat about Sunday’s match away to Hearts.

I went for a meal with Liel last week just to see what he was thinking and where he was at. He’s fine. Naturally he is sad, like us all really by what is happening.

It’s a really divisive subject in terms of what is happening. But he knows he has the support of every true Celtic supporter, every person here at the club – we are all backing him and here with him.

Like I said, for he and those people very close to it, it’s hard as a father to see some of the images of what’s going on, but if you’re so close to it and from his country then of course it’s even harder. But he’s okay, he’s concentrating on getting himself fit and that’s all he is concerned about.

That’s the whole idea of taking him out and having a bite to eat, just to think where he was at. You forget that although these guy are professional footballers, they’re young men. He’s 22 years of age in a foreign country, learned the language and he’s done great for Celtic and we’re here to support him and help him.