The Rosenborg players have taken the unusual step of releasing a statement after their manager was sacked suddenly on Thursday.
Celtic’s Champions League opponents are in turmoil after the sacking of Kåre Ingebrigtsen just days before the crunch tie.
The players have went so far as to ask the board to reinstate their former manager immediately.
“We vehemently disagree with the board’s decision to sack Kåre (Ingebrigtsen).
“The whole group was behind the training team until the end, and the group believes they were and would be best suited to further development.
“As a group we asked the board to reinstate Kåre and Erik, but they refused.
“We thank you for four wonderful years, with very good results and the return of Rosenborg as Norway’s largest club.”
The players now say they will show full respect to the next manager who comes in but it’s clear to see that the club has a long way to go before these wounds are healed.
