NO-NONSENSE Brendan Rodgers AXED Alexandro Bernabei from his match day squad for oversleeping and turning up late for a team meeting.
The dozy Argentinian left-back got the boot from the pool of players for Celtic’s Premiership opener against Ross County at Parkhead on Saturday.
Bernabei, who had scored an excellent goal un the 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao in the James Forrest Testimonial Match the previous Tuesday, incurred the wrath of the hardline gaffer after failing to attend on time for the pre-match gathering before the treble-winners’ 4-2 victory over the Highlanders.
SMART ALEX…Argentinian left-back Alexandro Bernabei slips the ball past Athletic Bilbao keeper Unai Simon for Celtic’s second goal in the 3-2 win last week.
The 22-year-old defender was nowhere to be seen at the kick-off to the new campaign and the mystery has been solved following a report in the Daily Record.
Rodgers is a stickler for punctuality and has no qualms about ditching or punishing players who do not meet his expectations and demands.
Now Bernabei, who cost £3.75million when he arrived from top-flight club Lanus in June last year, faces a sweat to discover if his manager will include him in his squad for Sunday’s High Noon showdown with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The message, though, from Rodgers is crystal – snooze and you lose.
