Celtic winger Liel Abada is experiencing a challenging period, both personally and professionally, amidst ongoing conflict in his native Israel.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has publicly supported Abada, acknowledging the difficulties he faces and expressing his commitment to helping the player navigate this turbulent phase.
Since returning from an injury at the end of last year, Abada’s performances on the pitch have not mirrored the high standards he previously set under former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. This dip in form comes against a backdrop of significant pressure from his homeland, urging him to leave Celtic due to the club’s fanbase expressing support for Palestine—a situation that has evidently weighed heavily on Abada.
Despite the mounting challenges, Rodgers remains steadfast in his belief in Abada’s importance to the team. Throughout January, Abada reportedly had several loan options available, but Celtic chose to retain the Israeli international, a decision that has since sparked debate among fans in light of his recent form. Rodgers, however, is focused on the bigger picture, aiming to rekindle the winger’s on-field prowess.
The gaffer said: [RecordSport] “To play football at your best, you have to be in that really positive mindset and in a good headspace. But we will constantly work with him in order to maximise what we can get out of him.
“I think what we do is just continue to communicate with him. My job is to maximise the potential that he has and, for that, it’s just about making sure he is in the best place possible.
“I speak a lot to him and he has great support around here. So, yeah, it’s not easy for him at the minute, but we just keep working with him to get the best performance out of him.”
