John Kennedy has hit back at Norway manager Stale Solbakken after his outspoken remarks about Kristoffer Ajer.
Solbakken did not stop last month at simply urging the defender to seek pastures new as the defender enters into the final 12 months of his Celtic contract but also went on to suggest that Ajer had picked up bad habits due to being unchallenged in Scottish football.
The Norway manager said the defender looked like a “man playing against boys” at Celtic much to the chagrin of Kennedy.
Ajer had a difficult international break after being culpable defensively as Norway lost to Turkey last week and has been part of a Celtic defence this term that has looked vulnerable throughout a dispiriting campaign.
Kennedy, though, was still irked at the public remarks from Solbakken.
“I thought it was disrespectful to both the league and the club,” said Kennedy.
“We are a massive club in our own right who compete in Europe every season. To come out with such a strong statement about what a player must do, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.
“It’s not his position to say that. If he wanted to have a private conversation with Kris over that, fine.
“But I certainly don’t think he should be coming out publicly and telling a player what he should or shouldn’t do. Especially when you play at a club like Celtic. Anybody who has been at Celtic will have realised the size of it the minute they stepped through the door. The magnitude of it, the fan base and the expectation.”
Ajer was signed for Celtic by former manager Ronny Deila in 2016. He returned to his homeland to finish the Norwegian season before then arriving at Celtic as Brendan Rodgers replaced his fellow countryman.
The then teenager had a successful loan spell with Kilmarnock before returning to Celtic where he became part of the first-team set-up. And Kennedy has insisted that the Parkhead side are due credit for their part in how he has developed with a number of clubs interested in the player.
“No doubt about it, we have had a huge part in Kris’s career to date and how he has developed into the player he is,” said Kennedy.
“He has played a massive part in that development himself because he commits himself to it every day.
“Kris being in a different place? No doubt there will be interest in Kris because of his profile, his age and where he is at. But I found the statement and the comments disrespectful towards ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy has also revealed that he has been keeping in touch with Christopher Jullien throughout the defender’s rehabilitation. Back in France as he looks to get back on his feet following a serious knee injury at the end of December.
The issue came after Jullien had already been sidelined for three months in the opening stages of the season. The defender has made just 15 appearances for Celtic this term with his loss regarded as a contributory factor into the porous nature of the Parkhead side’s defence.
“When you lose a big player, a big personality, it's always a blow,” said Kennedy. “But you have to adjust and not use it as an excuse. It's a tough injury for Chris. He's missed a considerable period of time already and will do in the future.
“Of course, you want your best players fit and he's done well for us here. We want him back fit and well, and on the pitch again. Chris is a big character in the dressing-room. He's experienced as well so you miss it.
“We've had to deal with that, in the same way as when we've missed someone like James Forrest. There are always challenges, it's just about how you deal with it. But of course, we'd rather have Chris available.
“I've spoken to him a few times, I was on the phone to him just last week for a bit. I wanted to see how he's progressing. He's in France at the minute, getting more intense rehab work. Being based there, he has more time with someone he's used to working with and in a place he's familiar with.
“He's still in the early stages, which is always the toughest part because you're restricted in what you can do. You want to get moving quicker but with the injury he's had, it's just about steady progression.
“He's a good guy, a strong character with a really good mindset. He can deal with the challenge of being injured and he's very focused on how he can improve and get better again.
“He's in a good place mentally, which is sometimes a challenge in these moments. So that's important, it allows him to get his work in on the right path to recovery.
“He was a really important figure for us last season. This period has been a big setback for us. But he's an important player for Celtic. We want him back fit and healthy and when he is, he'll have a big future at the club.
“Whether you're the manager or first team coach, it's about developing a person on and off the pitch. In my experience, the ones with the best attitudes have continued success.”
Kennedy has also insisted that the issues Celtic have had this term as the league was lost is nothing to do with a perceived lack of application from the current squad.
“That’s not to say it's been down to attitude [this season],” said Kennedy. “People jump to conclusions on that.
“I see the players every day and I know they've been committed. Sometimes a lack of confidence or drop in form – especially at a club like Celtic where it's scrutinised – turns into: 'Oh, he's got a bad attitude'. When it's not.”
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