Alison McConnell: Mystery over Hayes a rare misstep for Celtic boss

In the midst of a punishing schedule that will push a squad, whose captain and also its most senior player are still part-time, to its limit, the last thing Elena Sadiku needed last week were whispers of dressing room fall-outs.

In the aftermath of the win over Glasgow City as Celtic progressed to the semi-final of the Sky Sports Cup, the omission of Hayes had not gone, nor was it ever likely to go, under the radar.

Hayes, whose pink headband has become the game-day accompaniment of choice for little girls who patiently stand trackside for their photograph with her after every other game, is the most recognisable member of Celtic’s squad and the most high-profile player within the team.

She has, quite literally, become the poster girl for the women’s side, judging by recent club promotions. 

It wasn’t just that she had been posted missing from the midweek win over Queen’s Park and then the Sunday win over a Glasgow City side who are currently top of the SWPL. It was also that Hayes hadn’t been spotted at training and was not in attendance at either game, as would be the general protocol for injured or suspended players.

The women’s game is a small pool. Friendships and relationships are not unusual across rival clubs. The players are also not so aloof as those within the men’s game are, largely because of the financial circumstances around them and the necessary juggling act with other jobs. It is inevitable, then, that keeping a lid on training-ground gossip is not always easy.
As rumours circulated of a fall-out between Hayes and Sadiku, there was a swift move inside the club to pour cold water on the speculation. 

Yet, as the Swede prepared for the game with a pre-match press conference ahead of the Chelsea game her discomfort at being pressed on the matter was palpable. She maintained that Hayes had simply been rested, although the reasons for that remain baffling. 

If she was resting it would be intriguing to know what she was being rested for.

A pointed and loud “Hayes is back!” in her post-match press conference on Wednesday night was notable with the same line trotted out again in the pre-match presser ahead of this afternoon’s meeting with Rangers. 

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One blogger tweeted the Hayes line with an “everyone liked that!!!!!” commentary. If Hayes is back – and the expectation now is that she will start against Rangers – the obvious question is just where has she been and where has she returned from?

The situation was not handled particularly well, with such off-field instances perhaps as much of a learning curve for Sadiku as what happens on it. The youngest manager to coach in the Champions League, Sadiku drew respect from her opposite number, Sonia Bompastor, on Wednesday night as the Chelsea coach spoke in glowing terms of the Celtic manager. 

Certainly, this season will have put Sadiku very firmly on a notable radar but the handling of the Hayes issue was clumsy. 

Celtic remain without points in the Champions League but they were not disgraced against a Chelsea team who made it to the semi-final stage last term and who will have designs on getting their hands on the trophy this summer.

This season was always going to be a tough introduction for the Parkhead side as they compete in the group stage of the tournament for the first time. It will have left them with an appreciation of just how significant the jump is from the SWPL to the last 16 of Europe’s premier domestic competition.

It was notable on Wednesday night that Chelsea didn’t have an English starter as they kicked the game off. Celtic’s best performers were both homegrown with Amy Gallacher’s pass for Murphy Agnew’s goal worthy of celebration while Shannon McGregor, signed from Hibs this summer, was also impressive. 

The education of Sadiku also continues. 

And another thing
Murphy Agnew made a little bit of history on Wednesday night as she scored Celtic’s first ‘proper’ goal in the Champions League but it was a story that ought to have had bells and whistles attached.

The striker, whose goal helped Celtic to make it to the group stages of the Champions League is also a Harvard graduate. Not only has she penned her name into Celtic’s modern history books but the suspicion is that she has also created a little bit of UEFA history too; across the men’s and women’s competition there cannot be too many players who have Ivy League credentials to their name.

And finally
Glasgow City could be the winners this afternoon depending on how the game at New Douglas Park plays out. With Celtic and Rangers going head-to-head as Leanne Ross’ side face Queen’s Park, there is a real chance that they could extent their lead at the top of the SWPL. A point clear of Rangers at the minute and two clear of Celtic, should they beat Queen’s and anything gives between Celtic and Rangers they would be in an ideal situation to capitalise on it.