‘True warrior’ Kolo in line for a rapid recall
BRENDAN RODGERS harbours no concerns about pitching his European specialist Kolo Toure back into his Champions League defence — two weeks after the centre-half shouldered the blame for Borussia Monchengladbach winning at Parkhead.
The veteran’s two costly errors showed Lars Stindl and Andre Hahn the route to sealing a 2-0 victory for the Bundesliga giants, after which the crestfallen star admitted he had ‘defended like a 16-year-old’.
Toure (right) has not featured since but Rodgers regards the 35-year-old’s experience as a huge bonus for major European tests away from home and that may result in a recall ahead of Jozo Simunovic. Toure and the Croatian, in his comeback from a long-term knee injury, have shared the workload partnering Erik Sviatchenko this season.
The Dane put in a man of the match performance alongside Simunovic yesterday, with Toure not even making the bench, but Rodgers has hinted the Ivory Coast international will be back in situ for the midweek test.
Six of Toure’s 12 outings for Celtic have come in European competition. The Europa League Final in May was one of eight appearances in the tournament for Liverpool under Rodgers then Jurgen Klopp last season and he also played Champions League games for the current Celtic boss in his spell at Anfield.
‘Kolo is a true warrior and you don’t get to achieve what he has in the game at 35 without that strong mentality,’ said Rodgers. ‘Any game I’ve ever had, especially away from home in tough places, he’s been one of the leading players. So if I need to call upon him he’ll be ready.
‘He was devastated after the (Borussia) game. He was man enough to stand up and say that. He will always give his best. It depends if he’s going to be fit or not and that’s the only reason there’s been changes in that position.
‘Jozo, at this stage, is probably unable to play two or three games a week and Kolo, naturally, if the games fall very quickly then it’s difficult for him in terms of recovery. That’s natural but whoever plays will be at their best and give it their best.’