The former Scotland hitman says that the Bhoys are no longer “bothered” about pulling on the green and white jersey
Kris Boyd has slammed the performances of Celtic so far this season, questioning whether the players are “bothered” to play for the club and going as far to say that he has “no doubt” that there is a split in the dressing room.
The Hoops failed to qualify for the Champions League this season and have made a mediocre start to their Scottish Premiership defence. Although they beat rivals Rangers, they lie sixth in the table with six matches gone, having already suffered two defeats and scored only six goals.
On Sunday, they suffered a stunning last-minute loss away to Kilmarnock, plunging them into crisis for the first time since Brendan Rodgers took over a couple of years ago.
And Boyd believes that alarm bells should be ringing in Glasgow’s east end after a summer that saw them struggle to make headway in the transfer window, notably losing out on John McGinn before seeing centre-back Dedryck Boyata go on strike prior to a vital Champions League match against AEK Athens.
“Are they really that bothered to be playing in a Celtic jersey right now? Not for me,” the Kilmarnock striker told BBC Sport.
“I know there was a meeting after the Champions League exit.
“And, when you look at that, there is a divide in the dressing-room, there is no doubt about it. It was quite clear.”
Boyd is pinning the blame on the difficult summer they had, suggesting that players like Boyata and Olivier Ntcham, who was subject to an approach from Porto, are still suffering from the hangover of having bids rejected for them.
“When a club wants to play £14m for him, that guy’s wages are going through the roof when he goes there. He wants to go,” Boyd said, speaking of France Under-21 international Ntcham. “Boyata, the exact same.
“Ntcham was excellent up to the first four games. Since the transfer window shut and Moussa Dembele has gone, he looks a shadow of what he was.”
Celtic face Aberdeen at home on Saturday in what is shaping up to be an important game for their season. Defeat could potentially leave them nine points adrift of early pacesetters Hearts.
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