I still cop abuse off Celts fans
Celts loan star wants to prove his worth on road after seeing £80m-rated Maguire rule at home
SCOTT McDONALD has revealed how he is still the target of abuse from Celtic supporters – 13 years after Helicopter Sunday.
Today, in an exclusive interview with Record Sport, the Aussie announces he has officially hung up his boots after
FILIP BENKOVIC saw Leicester’s £80million-rated Harry Maguire wasn’t leaving the King Power and realised he’d have to. But having headed north to develop his career, the 21-year-old wants to be a priceless commodity to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
Benkovic cost the Foxes £13m last month and has made an excellent initial impression in hoops.
Two clean sheets in two outings have accompanied a composure and defensive diligence from the Croat. He’s only going to be in Glasgow on loan a single season but the early signs are it will be a successful one.
It’s a move that perfectly suits both parties. Defensively fragile for six weeks, Rodgers’s team needed a stopper. Benkovic needed a chance.
When the Under-21 international joined Leicester from Dinamo Zagreb three weeks before the close of the transfer window he was widely regarded as a successor to Maguire.
Having enjoyed a brilliant World Cup, the Englishman was attracting the attention of Manchester United and a megabucks deal was discussed.
But when the Foxes stood firm and made it clear the door wasn’t open for a Maguire move, another closed for Benkovic.
Foxes boss Claude Puel rates him highly and knew his progression would be stunted sitting on a bench – Celtic were instantly on the case.
Benkovic said: “I made the transfer to Leicester but I saw their situation – there were a lot of defenders, some players were £80m.
“I looked at the situation realistically and wanted somewhere to have a better chance to play and to improve my game.
“Had I stayed there I’d maybe have played some cup games. But the situation was like this – they will play Maguire after they rejected Manchester United’s offer.
“I learned a lot from them in training in that month. They have such experienced players and they gave me some good advice.
“But it’s football and sometimes you must look to other places to get a chance because only with games can you get better and better.
“I was happy this move happened. It was maybe on the last day and I waited a long time but everything settled well and now I’m very happy.”
Celtic’s supporters are also very happy with what they’re seeing. Now Dedryck Boyata has regained his focus and place, five successive clean sheets and the prospect of solidity in the side will offer big comfort.
Benkovic and Boyata have been solid through 150 minutes against St Mirren and Rosenborg and the Croat said: “I haven’t trained so many times with Dedryck because of the international break. But when I did, we trained very well.
“There are some new tactics here which I like and I know myself I have space to improve on each level of my game. Dedryck is here and there are other defenders too.
“But we played on Thursday after playing together in my first game too. I can learn because he’s a very experienced player.
“He’s played all his career at the top level and plays for Belgium, I’m very happy to be at a team with these big players.”
Benkovic sees Jozo Simunovic as one of those as well. The injury-jinxed stopper – sidelined again with knee issues – is at least fourth pick now with Kristoffer Ajer also ahead of him.
But Simunovic can help his compatriot settle as Benkovic said: “I spoke to him as we know each from Dinamo. He has helped me a lot here and I’m happy he is here.”
Friendship is one thing but he didn’t sign to sit on the bench – his sights are trained on building on an excellent start.
Tomorrow’s trip to Kilmarnock offers another chance to shine and morale in the camp has been boosted by Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win.
Benkovic said: “That was a very good game for us. The atmosphere was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to play.
“It was my first game at Celtic Park and it was an unbelievable feeling.
“The fans were behind us for 90 minutes. They trusted in us and we believed in ourselves.
“We scored at the end and it was a very important three points. This is why we play football – because of this. If someone asks you why you play football you bring him here and see everything. It was very emotional.
“Rosenborg came here not to play so much. But we sort of expected it because in the games before they stayed behind.
“It was a tough game and we needed a lot of time to get to their goal. We had some opportunities but we believed until the last minute. God gave us it back you know.
“Celtic are a club only interested in winning – winning titles, winning games and until the end of the season we want to improve our play.
“I did not know we will play on plastic (at Rugby Park) but this is football and on each pitch we must give everything. If we play on a plastic pitch we will train for it.
“If we play like a team – not individually – and fight for each other, I believe we will get a result.”
It’s football – sometimes you must look to other places to get a chance FILIP BENKOVIC