Soccer

Celtic’s Emilio Izaguirre needed stitches after training bust-up

‘We want intensity in training. It was a tackle and a reaction and he got hit in his ear’

Celtic’s Nadir Ciftci celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game with teammate Emilio Izaguirre. Photograph: Jeff Holmes/PA
Celtic’s Nadir Ciftci celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game with teammate Emilio Izaguirre. Photograph: Jeff Holmes/PA
Tue Oct 27 2015 - 16:21

Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre needed stitches in his ear after Nadir Ciftci lashed out at his team-mate following a training-ground tackle.

Celtic boss Ronny Deila confirmed that Ciftci had reacted to a challenge during a training session ahead of Celtic's League Cup quarter-final against Hearts on Wednesday night.

Both players are available for the Tynecastle clash after the Norwegian spoke with the pair.

Deila was open about the incident, which happened with press photographers and camera crews present ahead of the manager’s pre-match media conference.

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“It happens all the time,” he said. “We want intensity in training. It was a tackle and a reaction and he (Izaguirre) got hit in his ear. He had to go to get it stitched and he’s fine for tomorrow.

“It was a reaction from another player to a tackle.

“I always say to my players I want 100 per cent. They are very good at that.

“We have a fantastic atmosphere in the training pitch. It’s been very good lately.

“Sometimes it goes a little too hot and today there was an incident but I have talked with both players and everybody is ready for tomorrow.”

Deila confirmed it was Ciftci who reacted and added: “I wasn’t there. We sorted it inside. We talked with both of the players and we are finished with it and we move on with every focus we can have on tomorrow.