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Gordon Strachan said yesterday that he would speak to Artur Boruc in an attempt to “get the facts right” in the furore after the Celtic goalkeeper’s alleged axing from the Poland squad by Leo Beenhakker, the team coach.
By last night, however, after claim and counterclaim, the story was about as clear as mud.
Boruc is one of three Poles who were involved in late-night antics after Poland’s friendly against Ukraine on Wednesday. Beenhakker was reported to want to suspend Boruc for at least two games. It is the latest in a series of episodes involving Celtic’s talented but loose-cannon of a goalkeeper.
“I’m totally focused on the Falkirk game, but once I have the facts I can deal with it,” Strachan said yesterday. “It’s only fair to deal in the facts.”
The Celtic manager may try to speak to Beenhakker before addressing the matter with Boruc, though the coach himself has played down the row. “It’s not true that I have decided to suspend my players,” the Dutchman said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Strachan pronounced himself pleased with the return of Shaun Maloney to Celtic.
“I enjoy working with any player who wants to listen and try to make himself better, who dedicates himself to the game, and Shaun is all of these things,” Strachan said. “He appreciates his talent and doesn’t take it for granted. His workrate around the training field is phenomenal. He also knows that, to be a good player, you have to be a good teammate.”
Strachan denied that Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, was initially unenthused at the prospect of Maloney’s return. ”Everybody is positive about it,” he said. “The players, the coaches, all think it’s great to have him back. [Resigning Maloney] was what we all wanted to do.”
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