Ruairi Daly 
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Brendan Rodgers has explained why Leigh Griffiths, Kolo Toure and Jozo Simunovic didn’t make the trip to Germany for their crucial Champions League tie.
The trio were all surprise omissions from the squad that arrived at Glasgow airport earlier today and flew to Monchengladbach for their crucial Champions League tie.
Speaking ahead of the game in Germany to the media, Rodgers said:
Leigh took ill on Sunday morning. He didn’t train with us. He felt better & was due to come in today but the medical team felt it better he didn’t come as he has little virus
Kolo has been injured for a little while so he’s still not available.
Simunovic we have been managing his games, and with it being so close to Saturday’s game, too tight a turnaround.
The Croatian is still recovering from knee surgery in March, and the last thing Rodgers will want is the young defender to injured for longer, while the veteran Toure picked up a groin strain agaisnt Monchengladbach last time out and hasn’t featured since.
Kieran Tierney is already out through injury after damaging ligaments in his ankle in training last weekend and will miss around two months of action.
Celtic will be looking to overturn their loss last time out in the Champions League to their German opponents, who drew 0-0 last Friday against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Any hopes of progressing in Europe beyond Christmas will take a serious dent if they fail to get a result tomorrow – and a win will be just their second every away from hoe in the group stages of the competition.
