BRENDAN RODGERS has scoffed at Kris Boyd’s claims of a divide in the Celtic dressing room.
The former Rangers striker made the remarkable accusation earlier today – as CQN reported – where he also stated Olivier Ntcham wants away from the champions.
The Hoops boss dismissed the astonishing notion and said the veteran frontman should concentrate on attempting to get a place in the Kilmarnock first team.
Boyd was on the bench when the Rugby Park side snatched a stoppage-time winner against the Parkhead men on Sunday.
Rodgers said he would look into Boyd’s comments, but also shot down talk of a split in the dressing room. He said: “Not overly-comfortably listening to that, it’s the first I’ve heard of it, really.
DEBUT BHOY…Youssouf Mlumbu made his first appearance against Kilmarnock.
“Kris would be better suited trying to get back in the Kilmarnock team and we’ll concentrate on our job here.”
He remarked: “When teams lose games, the logic is there’s a split in the dressing room, sometimes there’s no Plan B.
“For us, we’re very much unified as a club, we’ve set high standards over the last couple of seasons.
“Yes, we haven’t started how we would want, but it’s very early in the season and we’re very much together.
“It’s something I’m very calm with, we have a stable blueprint and have shown we have a winning strategy. From time to time, we won’t win, but we have to accept that.
“There is a bit of heat that comes with that, but it’s important you stay calm and that’s what we are.”
Rodgers admitted he takes “total responsibility” for the recent defeats to Hearts and Kilmarnock having rung the changes before both away trips and bringing Youssof Mulumbu for his debut against Steve Clarke’s men and also playing youngsters Mikey Johnston and Lewis Morgan during the encounter.
SECOND-HALF SUB…Lewis Morgan came on at Rugby Park. Pics: Geo.
Ryan Christie also got a rare first team start for the seven-in-a-row x=title-winners.
The Irishman added: “The two games we’ve lost, I take total responsibility for that.
“I made big changes for both. Away at Hearts, while preparing for a Champions League game, I made a number of changes, more than normal.
“At the weekend, we had six changes. I trust all the players, but maybe I changed too many.
“It’s something I need to think about. I need to look at myself with that.”
Rodgers is likely to bring back French midfielder Ntcham for the Betfred League Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone in Perth tomorrow night.
