Celtic manager Elena Sadiku has insisted there is nothing sinister behind Caitlin Hayes’ recent omission from her squad and from training.
The Republic of Ireland internationalist is back in the fold for tomorrow night's game (Wednesday) against Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after speculation regarding a club suspension.
Sadiku was keen to distance herself from any whispers regarding a falling out with the player who has become the face of the women’s team across recent seasons, insisting that her absence from games against Queen’s Park and Glasgow City was simply because the player was ‘rested.’
It is, though, also believed that Hayes had not been involved in full training with the first-team last week and nor was she in attendance at either of the games, as would be expected for members of the first-team who are not in the match day squad.
“I think my answer has always been that she has been resting and that is the same answer that I am going to give you because she has not been suspended,” said Sadiku. “I think you can trust me when I say she has not been suspended. She has been rested.”
Pressed on just why Hayes would need to sit out while other key players remained involved in a game against City – who have lost only to Celtic this term – Sadiku was reluctant to offer any significant explanation.
“I mean, like, if that is a reason she is being rested then there is a reason but that is something I don’t want to talk about. But she has been resting. She is back and she has been training so there is no issues with that. She has been back in training, everything is fine. She has been resting.
“Yes [she is now in the squad]. She has been resting and now she is back. There is nothing else to talk about.”
Read more:
- Celtic manager makes league-winning claim: 'It feels surreal'
- Celtic manager's 'underdog' comment that fuelled flag day rout
Hayes was back in training this week after discussions with Sadiku and is expected to feature in tonight’s game against Chelsea. Celtic have yet to take a point in the Champions League after losing their opening two games to FC Twente and to Real Madrid with the Swede insisted that her side will be better for the exposure to Europe’s elite.
“This experience has taught us that this is just a normal game,” she said. “The occasion is huge but we still need to do what we can do which is playing football the way we play.
“We knew it would be tough but we are going to learn, we are going to grow and we are going to get stronger as a team from playing here.
“Against Real Madrid we were confident enough to play and take the pressure and we showed no fear. It is a huge test but this is something we knew before the tournament started. I don’t think we are going to have a bigger test than this.”
Sadiku was at Celtic Park last week for the pulsating win over Leipzig in the Champions League as Brendan Rodgers’ side enjoyed a memorable European evening under the lights.
Now she wants the Celtic support to turn out in their numbers to give the women’s side the same energy and atmosphere. Tickets remain available for the game at Celtic Park and she has appealed to the fanbase to make the effort to turn out.
“I want as many as possible,” she said. “What we have done so far is an amazing achievement for the club and for the players and I want the players to get the best atmosphere possible so they enjoy the moment and get that extra energy. It helps the perform the best football they can do because they deserve it.
“There are eight teams in total who have both a men’s and a women’s team in the Champions League and that is very special. We are talking about big clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid…not even Chelsea.
“Celtic is part of that and, for me, if you are a Celtic fan you should support the big history we are creating as a club. These girls deserve the best possible support.
“For them I would like 40,000 – I am aiming big! But I would like as many as possible into the ground. The girls have done so well and I would like them to have the support that they deserve."
The Swede has also revealed that her opposite number tonight, Sonia Bompastor, is someone she would like to emulate.
“Looking at her, how she talks about the team, how she is perceived as a coach is something that I want to be perceived as well,” she said. “She barely talks about herself. She always talks about the team and that shows the leader she is.
“There are only three female coaches in the competition and that’s something I want to see more of. I want to see more female coaches leading female teams especially. She’s a great role model for a lot of female coaches out there.”
