CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers insists his players are no divers and do not have to resort to underhand tricks to win games.
The Irishman believes accusations thrown at his players Scotty Sinclair and Callum McGregor over the past week are completely unfair.
Motherwell prepare to travel to Parkhead this afetrnoon for the third instalment of meetings against the Champions after the previous two ended in acrimony.
Rodgers said: “If people have any issues with our behaviour remember we won the Fairplay Award last year.
“My notion has always been that the team always has to have values and the first one is respect.
“There are three values in our team, which is respect, unity and excellence. All defined by the players and staff and I think how they’ve lived up to those values has been incredible, really.
“So, we aim always to win, but also, importantly for me, is to reinforce the values of the club, the team and always winning in a sporting way. That’s what we always try to do and if we draw a game or whatever we have to be honest enough and move on.
“I’m not offended by these accusations. People will always find a reason to be negative or find a reason to lose or draw or whatever, but that’s okay. We know who we are.
“We’ve demonstrated that often enough, so our headlines are for the game and always will be. You lose track of what people are trying to say and it doesn’t bother us.
“Wednesday night was our first penalty in 14 league games – it was only our second penalty of the season and the other one was last week in the League Cup Final.
“We were at the bottom of the table for penalties given before then yet I suspect, if there was analysis done, we’re probably in the box more than any team – and in the box with quality possession.
“I said after the League Cup Final that I don’t think we get the penalties we should get.”
ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY OF JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, A LISBON LION DIARY TODAY!
