Footage emerged of Idah online heading home from a night out but Rodgers is satisfied with the Irishman’s explanation
Brendan Rodgers insists he got the full story from Adam Idah and admits it’s a shame situations are pieced together to look worse for young stars.
A video of Idah on a night out emerged on social media this week, appearing to show the Irishman worse for wear and vomiting in the back of a taxi.
The Celtic manager believes it’s sad that individuals have to be guarded and deny kids dream moments.
The manager revealed Idah contacted him quickly to give his full version of events.
Rodgers was supportive and satisfied with the explanation and insists it is a shame that stars are exposed to such scenarios.
He said: “I haven’t seen anything, but Adam rang me yesterday to take me through everything that happened.
“I spoke to him again this morning. There’s a sadness to it. He knows, and the group knows, where I am at in terms of focus and mentality.
“But this was on a day off. The sad thing for me is that a 24-year-old football player in his spare time can’t sort of let his hair down without someone trying to film him.
“This is the challenge now for people in general, but in particular, if you are a young football player.
“I got the full story from him. I don’t have any doubt he is a great young professional.
“He does absolutely everything to be the best player he can be. He has a nutritionist outside of the club, he does extra work.
“So I have absolutely no doubts about that. It’s just a shame these things get pieced together and make it look a lot worse than what it is.
“I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard some of the guys mention it. He has to live with that, but I have no doubts on his mentality. He’s had an evening off on Wednesday and we were off on Thursday.
“We’ve got plenty of time before the game on Sunday. So I’m with Adam on that.”
Rodgers reckons it’s having an impact on other fans as he continued: “In the modern society, especially these young guys, they have to be guarded. Sadly it’s the way of the world.
“People that will maybe go to sign an autograph or do a video and then some clown comes in and says something else in the video.
“Then people wonder why players won’t do a video, why won’t they sign, why do they drive past? Well, because you tried to expose them.
“So why do they take the risk then, they just drive past, they don’t bother, which is a sad thing because kids want things signed or whatever else. But it’s just where we are, we have to live with that.
“Whatever was put out there, people will have their own narrative to the story, but I get it from him.
“He was honest enough to ring me yesterday and we spoke, which was great, then we had a chat this morning. He is fine, he trained really well and he’ll be ready for the weekend.”
Ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final agaibst St Johnstone, Rodgers also dimissed noise surrounding a potential Guard of Honour for his team at Ibrox should they head across Glasgow at the beginning of next month as champions.
He said: “When do we play Rangers? A couple of weeks. There’s enough time for that. So I’m just focusing on St Johnstone, that’s the big focus.”
