BRENDAN RODGERS has given his players permission to foul Raheem Sterling – if they can catch the flying winger.
The Celtic manager can’t hide his affection for the Manchester City star who he worked with at Liverpool before his record breaking £49million move just over a year ago.
Sterling struggled at City last season and was then made a scapegoat for England’s dire performances in the European Championships.
Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers recalls Craig Gordon and admits Dorus de Vries error
The 21-year-old has blossomed under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and his former boss knows that player can’t be intimidated.
Not that he doesn't want to see his Celtic team give Sterling a tough time.
Rodgers said: “You can’t kick him. I saw that in training all the time.
Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers recalls Craig Gordon and admits Dorus de Vries error
“When we first brought him into our training all the centre-halves – Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger – tried to kick the life out of him. But very quickly they realised you can’t.
“He’s actually stronger than them. He has this incredible and unique power and strength. A lot of it is in his head – that’s why I know he’ll be alright in the end – but his actual physicality is immense for such a slight boy.
“He’ll never get bullied in a game. I’ve seen many examples of it in training, to the point where the defenders wouldn’t get so close to him. Skrtel is a big guy but he would tell you. Raheem would arm them off, boom, with incredible strength.
“If you ask Kolo Toure he’ll tell you the same thing. He was someone so wispy, slight and fast but his strength is tremendous. You might have to try and kick him, but…”
Rodgers is looking for his players to show far more physicality compared to their rather passive performance in Barcelona.
The Irishman has not instructed his team to simply kick their opponents – that’s not his style – but he wants them to get in their faces.
Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers recalls Craig Gordon and admits Dorus de Vries error
Rodgers said: “I always say, you’re not really pressing if you can’t touch the player. You get different levels of pressure onto an opponent but how I like the team to play, you’re only pressing if you can touch them.
“Sometimes with the top players, though, you simply cannot get close enough to them. That’s why they’re world class.
"But the reality is that you have to fight, you have to find a way somehow. The top ones move the ball so fast but you have to make fouls. You have to disrupt the rhythm or else it just becomes too easy.”
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