BRENDAN RODGERS has pleaded with the Celtic fans to set aside plans for boycotts for their Europa League clash against Sporting Braga at Parkhead on Thursday.
The champions are also at home tomorrow after five successive away games against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan, Premiership outings at Ibrox and Rugby Park, a Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final at Firhill as well as the 1-1 draw in Belgrade in midweek.
Hibs are the visitors to the east end of Glasgow where the Hoops realise three points are an absolute must to stay ahead of the challenging Hearts.
IN WITH A SHOUT…Brendan Rodgers hopes the Celtic fans will rally round the team.
Rodgers is now pondering giving Kelechi Iheanacho his first home start with the new Bhoy scoring a neat goal against Red Star in the Serbian capital after replacing the ineffective Daizen Maida.
One thing is certain, though, and that’s the appeal from the manager for the supporters to rally round the team and ditch threats of boycotts as they demonstrate their displeasure of the board following a perceived poor transfer window and the embarrassing Champions League exit to a team ranked 311th in the UEFA ratings.
Despite the ongoing tension on and off the field, Rodgers hopes the followers will support the Hoops against the Easter Road side at 3pm tomorrow and help to roar on their favourites against the Portuguese side next week as they search for their first win in the Europa League.
Quizzed of his hopes for the fans to put protests on hold, Rodgers answered: “I really hope so.
“The lift the supporters will give in these European games will be absolutely critical.
“Our fanbase can really push in this competition.”
The Irishman, speaking to the Scottish Sun, added: “I can’t tell the supporters what to do and how to feel, but if they can really help us as a team, that would be amazing.
“We will really feel the benefit of a packed-out Celtic Park.”
