Celtic's Champions League opponents Rosenborg are in disarray after the club's players released a statement voicing their anger over former manager Kare Ingebrigtsen's sacking.

The Norwegian champions announced on Thursday that they had parted company with Ingebritsen and assistant Erik Hoftun with immediate effect.

The decision came a day after the side narrowly avoided being knocked out of Champions League qualification at the first hurdle.

However, in a statement on Friday, Rosenborg's players insisted they "vehemently disagreed" with the move and demanded Ingebrigtsen and Hoftun were reinstated ahead of their showdown with Celtic.

Their request has been refused by the board, though, who have instead placed academy coach Rini Collent in temporary charge.

The press release read: "We vehemently disagree with the board's decision to sack Kåre (Ingebrigtsen) and Erik (Hoftun).

"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.

"Furthermore, we will professionally deal with those who come in now and will do our utmost to perform in future matches."

Rosenborg are two points off the top of the Eliteserien table.