Brendan Rodgers tells Liel Abada injury hammerblow is own fault – & demands Celtic ace learn from ‘frustrating’ mistake
BRENDAN RODGERS has told Liel Abada to learn from the mistake which has ruined his Champions League dream.
The 21-year-old Israeli winger is likely to miss the entire group stage campaign after picking up a thigh injury on international duty.
And Rodgers, who is unable to replace Abada in his 25-man European squad, admitted it could have been avoided.
The Celtic boss said: “It looks like he has done his thigh muscle.
“He picked it up at the end of training in a shooting exercise. It’s a shame for Liel because he did well over the course of pre-season and looked dangerous. He has qualities I like and qualities we can improve on.
“He was confident that he wanted to sign his new deal and continue his development. So to be out with something that you can actually control is the frustrating thing.
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“Control as in don’t do the shooting exercise at the end of training.
“I had this before with a young player, Suso who plays at Sevilla.
“When you fly, then land and go out to train, your legs are still full of pressure from flights.
“So when you are shooting and doing repetitive exercises that puts strain on them.
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“It’s something you can avoid, but young players see a net and they want to hit it. It will be a good learning experience for Liel going forward.
“It is what it is. There is an opportunity now for someone else to come in.”
Rodgers cannot swap Abada, who is expected to be sidelined for “three to four months”, out of his Euro plans after submitting his squad last week.
Celtic begin their Champions League group stage campaign with a tough away fixture against Feyenoord on Tuesday.
Rodgers said: “That is the big frustration. Those were some of the things we had to think of.
“Marco Tilio would have been perfect to put in there now.
“But he is only coming back from an injury himself and we had to weigh up that aspect of it.
“The bottom line is we can’t change it.”
Abada, who recently penned a new four-year deal at Parkhead, missed Israel’s Euro qualifiers.
Israeli boss Alon Hazan said: “The thing that bothered me most about the international week was the injury to Liel Abada.
“He is one of the best kids we have in the team. An amazing boy, who comes along and always shows love for the team.
“He is very professional and an incredible kid. He is quiet, works hard and is loved by everyone.
“Liel arrived here in maybe his sharpest and best form since I have been manager and I told him that too.
“Then suddenly he got an injury at the end of training that seemed minor. But after that, we realised he was going to be absent for a long period of time.
“I feel so bad for the boy because he had started the season so well and he had just signed a new contract at Celtic.
“I was certain he would be an important player in the national team and he would have helped us get the results we want.
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“I wish him nothing but good health and a speedy recovery and hope he will return to us as soon as possible.
“We love him and are waiting for him.”
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