BRENDAN RODGERS insists that Dedryck Boyata was fit to play in last night’s Champions League qualifying loss to AEK Athens, and that his absence proved costly as Celtic’s defence wilted in the heat of the Greek capital.

A 2-1 defeat on the night ended the Scottish champions hopes of reaching the group stages of the Champions League for a third consecutive season, and Rodgers admitted that poor defending had been the main cause of his side dropping into the play-off stage for the Europa League.

And the Celtic manager refuted claims earlier in the day from Boyata on social media that he was injured and unavailable for the game.

“He was fit,” said Rodgers.

“We were missing our two best centre halves, unfortunately. My concentration until I get back is only with the players who were here. But yeah, Dedryck would have been fit to play.

“Is that frustrating? Yeah because he’s been with us over the course of our journey for a couple of years.

“We got to this position and were without someone of his quality. Having a World Cup semi-finalist in our team would certainly have helped.

“But he wasn’t here.”

Leaving the issue of Boyata’s absence aside, Rodgers was at a loss to explain the lapses in concentration that led Celtic to concede in the opening minutes of both halves on the night, ultimately giving themselves a mountain to climb that they could not conquer.

“It’s very difficult,” he said.

“There have been elements I’ve seen over the course of pre-season where we conceded against Livingston, a soft goal. Against Aleshkert, a soft goal. Against Hearts we’ve given away a goal and over these two legs too.

“We haven’t been opened up and had fantastic goals scored against us. It’s been about concentration and basic defending. So, it’s hard for me to get my head around it.

“We just have to go away and work with the players that we have, try and improve and make them better.

“I always say you shouldn’t have to lose to learn. But when you do lose you have to learn.

“So that’s our message and we’ll go back onto the training field on Wednesday and try to improve.”

Rodgers felt that Celtic were the better side over the two legs against the Greek champions, but he says his men must now lift themselves quickly and ensure they at least make it into the group stages of the Europa League by overcoming either FK Suduva or Spartaks Jurmala next week.

“I feel generally in the game we played very well but conceded two soft goals,” he said. “Add those to the goal we conceded in the first-leg and I’m really disappointed.

“I thought we were the better football team over the course of the two games. In the main AEK didn’t have many opportunities against us. But you cannot concede that easily and unfortunately it’s cost us.

“In the two seasons I’ve been at the club we’ve qualified for the Champions League and it was just a step too far for us this season.

“We now have a play-off game for the Europa League and we have to ensure we have European football. But right now the only thing in my thinking is the way we’ve gone out of the Champions League.

"My view of the tie is that we had control of the first-leg and failed to take our opportunities.

"Then tonight we lost concentration for the goals.

"Apart from that we had no real concern in the game but AEK will be happy.

"But I was pleased with the overall performance, just not the result.

"Over the two games the best team won through because we didn't defend well enough.

"When you draw away from home and win at home you deserve to go through."