By Me
July 21 2005

Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan stands by defender, Bobo Baldes challenge, which broke Leicester teenager, James Wesolowksi's leg... Gordon Strachan leapt to the defence of Bobo Balde, whose challenge on Leicester teenage, James Wesolowski, left the him with a broken leg. Balde made the leg-breaking challenge in the goal-less friendly between Leicester and Celtic. The defender made the challenge 5 minutes before half-time.

Despite Leicester manager, Craig Levein, claiming the contrary, Strachan believes that the challenge was accident and such accidents can occur. Strachan also expressed his concern for the 17 year old. "What we need to be concerned about is the lad and we are now hoping the lad gets back to full fitness because until that point he was having a good game, he was enjoying himself. We wish him all the best and I will try to get in touch with him as soon as I can but I have been out the country since eight hours after the game finished." he said.

Despite Levein being adamant that Balde's tackle was malicious, Strachan insisted that it was an accident and there was no intent of a deliberate challenge.