Simunovic buoyed by wise words of Rodgers
Jozo Simunovic has revealed how a personal pep talk from Brendan Rodgers has left him totally committed to celtic — regardless of summer signings to bolster the backline.
The centre-half, who stands by his decision to abandon not one but two international teams after turning his back on both croatia and Bosnia, has fallen behind the pairing of Kristoffer Ajer and Dedryck Boyata in the celtic pecking order since being sent off in march’s 3-2 win at ibrox. A transfer target for a number of major clubs, including italian giants Lazio, the 23-yearold ended an injury-hit season by coming off the bench for Ajer in Saturday’s Scottish cup final triumph.
Reporting that he had been fit and raring to go for weeks, despite being handed just one start in the meaningless league game against Kilmarnock, Simunovic vowed: ‘my contract is here for another three years — and i’m ready for that.
‘The second half of the season was frustrating but, by the end, it was okay.
‘i’ve been ready to play all the time — and it’s just been down to the decision of the manager.
‘of course i wanted to show my best in training but it’s the manager’s decision. And the thing is, in the end, we won the Treble.
‘He explained it to me and i’m still very happy here. i cannot tell you what he said — that must remain personal.
‘But it was a very good conversation. it’s a challenge for me to get back in the team. i’m looking forward to next season to working hard and trying to get back in.
‘new players? That’s a question for the manager to answer. i don’t know if players will come in — right now i’m only thinking about my summer break!’
Simunovic began the season as celtic’s no 1 centre-back, yet a combination of injuries and the emergence of Boyata and Ajer as serious rivals saw him shunted to the sidelines.
His international career was dealt an even bigger blow as he first turned his back on croatia, then rejected Bosnia — the country of his parents — before being informed by FiFA that he could not change his mind again to join the croats at next month’s World cup.
Despite being on the receiving end of ferocious criticism back in the Balkans, the former Dinamo zagreb star is adamant that he did the right thing.
‘it’s been a difficult season for me, but i took the decisions for myself and, for sure, i’m a stronger man for it,’ he said.
‘Every footballer has his ups and downs and you have to take the right messages from these experiences. i take what has happened the last year and look forward.
‘next season, all i want is another Treble with celtic. i believe we can do it — but we have to take it game by game. European football is something we also have to aim for.’
Relieved to have played a final part in clinching a historic double Treble, even if it was only quarter of an hour in Saturday’s cup win, Simunovic said: ‘it was something special to win a Treble and to be part of that on the pitch is very special.’