Celtic have not started their Women’s Champions League campaign particularly well.
Elena Sadiku’s side were beaten 2-0 at home by FC Twente on matchday one before they were dispatched by Real Madrid as the Euro heavyweights showed their muscle.
Sadiku has chosen to look on the brightside from that 4-0 defeat but it leaves the Hoops bottom of their Group B this season and chasing their first points when they take on Chelsea at Celtic Park tomorrow evening.
It is set to be one of the biggest fixtures in the history of the Women’s team in Glasgow and Sadiku’s side will have to be at their best to stand a chance when the English giants come to town.
- READ MORE: Elena Sadiku takes solace in aspects of Celtic’s UWCL defeat to Real Madrid as ‘braveness’ saluted
Their preparation on the field could hardly have gone much better with a win on penalties against fierce rivals Rangers in the SWPL Cup semi-final following a 4-0 and 5-0 win over Queen’s Park and Motherwell respectively.
Off the field, though, there have been some questions in recent weeks about key player Caitlin Hayes and her availability to play the Blues.
Speculation has been rife after the Republic of Ireland international missed two fixtures against Gers as well as a game against Queen’s Park.
Caitlin Hayes was rumoured to have been suspended by Celtic
The suggestion has been that there had been a falling out between player and manager and that the 29-year-old had been left out for other reasons.
But now Sadiku has moved to clear up any rumour or innuendo as she made it clear Hayes’ omission from the squad has been down to wanting to give the player a rest.
“I think my answer has always been that she has been resting and that is the same answer that I am going to give you because she has not been suspended,” said the boss.
What Elena Sadiku said about Caitlin Hayes and Celtic ‘suspension’
“I think you can trust me when I say she has not been suspended. She has been rested.”
Further quizzed on why Hayes was not in attendance for the games, as would be expected of first-team squad members regardless of involvement, Sadiku was coy.
“I mean, like, if that is a reason she is being rested then there is a reason but that is something I don’t want to talk about,” she added.
“But she has been resting. She is back and she has been training so there is no issues with that. She has been back in training, everything is fine. She has been resting.
“Yes [she is now in the squad]. She has been resting and now she is back. There is nothing else to talk about.”
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