Celtic's first-team squad yesterday dispensed with their usual pre-match huddle and chose to go into a huff.
On the journey from Glasgow to Zagreb for tonight's delicately balanced Champions League qualifier against Croatia Zagreb, the players' strike committee decided to revert to last week's path of working to rule, refusing to talk to the media.
Having called off their go-slow last Friday, when they decided to comply with the terms of their contracts following a dispute over European bonus payments, yesterday's omerta was a surprise.
The gag was partially lifted later, when Tom Boyd and Paul Lambert attended a press conference claiming they did not have to be persuaded but had turned up as it was an international gathering.
The one thing Celtic will require at the Maksimir Stadium tonight is a collective will if they are to overcome the Zagreb side who showed in the first leg that they are likely to be fearsome adversaries on their own pitch.
Lambert said he expected an extremely demanding time in front of a passionate support, even if the capacity is reduced to 27,500 as redevelopment is in progress.
"They are very hard guys, with great strength and durability," he said. "Their striker, Marko Viduka, said afterwards that he knew he had been in a battle against Marc Rieper and Alan Stubbs. Well, Rieper and Stubbs knew they had done a real shift, too, because Viduka himself is a big, fearless guy." Manager Jozef Venglos is hopeful that Regi Blinker, the left-sided midfielder, will be fit after suffering a chest infection. If the Dutchman is available he will probably replace Tosh McKinlay in the team which beat Dundee United 2-1 last Saturday.
Meanwhile Celtic yesterday failed in a bid to sign Matthew Le Tissier after Southampton told them they would have to find £5 million to take him to Parkhead.
Venglos was willing to pay Southampton £3 million and Le Tissier more than £20,000 a week to join the Bhoys, but Celtic's bid was considered too low by Southampton's manager, Dave Jones, who has said he will sell the 29-year-old player if the right bid comes in. Le Tissier has been a substitute in Saints' opening two games.
