FOUR-TIME Celtic title winner Paul Lambert believes the current Hoops players “have to look at themselves” as the champions stutter through a troubled season.
The former Parkhead skipper insists no-one should be looking for excuses for poor performances amid the furore from the support who are calling for mass sackings in the boardroom.
There have been protests before the Premiership game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, where the visitors won 2-1 with a stoppage-time penalty-kick from Kelechi Iheanacho, and the 4-0 Premier Sports League Cup victory over Partick Thistle at Firhill.
Sunday’s dire 2-0 loss to Dundee at Dens Park had just kicked off before the game was delayed for three minutes after a barrage of tennis balls were thrown into Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty area.
DENS PARK DELAY…Celtic and Dundee players tidy up after tennis balls are thrown onto the pitch to delay the game for three minutes.
Interruptions and off-field tension are the last things Brendan Rodgers’ players need at the moment as they trail Hearts by five points and, coincidentally, meet Derek McInnes’ pacesetters at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Highlighting the animosity and disharmony engulfing the club, Lambert said: “It’s definitely having a negative effect on everything. The fans have obviously got their reasons for doing it.
“Sometimes it’s an easy excuse to hide behind, but, as a player when you step onto that field, it shouldn’t be in your makeup because you can’t influence anything like that, all you can concentrate on is winning games.
“The players have to look at themselves, as well, they’re not getting results at the moment. You can only hide behind transfers and things like that for long enough.
“It’s very unlike the Celtic fans, I have to say, because they are really loyal to the club and the team.
“But I think with what’s happening, the players are getting affected by it a little bit. However, that shouldn’t really come into play. It should be about getting the job done and whatever happens off the field happens.”
TORMENT ON TAYSIDE…a glum Brendan Rodgers.
Former club captain Lambert, speaking in a Daily Record report, added: “Is it having a detrimental effect? I think it is, yes.
“But these things should be the furthest thing from your mind as a player.
“The delays in the game against Dundee with fans throwing things on the pitch, that is an easy excuse to hide behind, as well.
“As a Celtic player, you have to hit the standard that fans expect. When you win, that will blow over, but because they got beat it almost becomes a crisis.
“If the team sat down in the dressing room and spoke about what’s going on, they would know themselves that they’re not performing to the level that a Celtic player should.”
Rodgers and his players step into the spotlight again tomorrow night when they face the Austrians of Sturm Graz in the Europa League under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
The Hoops are searching for their first win at the third attempt after drawing 1-1 with Red Star in Belgrade before a dismal 2-0 collapse at home to Sporting Braga.
