Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata is facing a backlash from his fellow team mates after appearing to break the unwritten code of spirit and team work, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper claim that the 27-year-old centre back is set to receive the cold shoulder from some of the squad, with senior players furious with his decision not to play in the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens, which saw the Hoops crash out 3-1 on aggregate.
It is stated that the Bhoys squad are firm believers in keeping the team spirit high and mucking in for your team mates, and that the Belgian has gone against that with his actions, with the report also suggesting his career at the club is effectively over.
Opinion
This is as little as Boyata deserves for his actions. How can you call yourself a professional footballer if you are not willing to battle it out with your team mates? Worse still, how can you stand there and lie about a supposed injury – something your manager later rubbishes – knowing that you are expected to do a job for the squad? Point the finger at whoever you want for the defeat to Athens, but there is a lot of blame to lie at Boyata’s door, for this whole situation will have disrupted not only Brendan Rodgers’ plans, but also sent shockwaves through the first team squad. He should be lucky if anyone from the Hoops decides to talk to him again before his inevitable exit. He has shown his true colours and embarrassed the club, and while he could have gone down in history as one of the double-treble winners, he will be condemned for his actions right now.