Bogdan finally over injury nightmare and is braced for a European adventure
HIBERNIAN goalkeeper Adam Bogdan admits his mental and physical resilience was put to the test during 18 months of injury torment. However, the Hungary international hopes his stunning Europa League performance against Asteras Tripolis will now mark the start of his career being back on track following a hugely frustrating knee cruciate ligament injury issue at Liverpool.
Bogdan was literally a one-man barricade during intense second-half pressure in Thursday’s 1-1 draw as Hibs survived to earn a 4-3 second qualifying round aggregate victory.
Manager Neil Lennon hailed his display as ‘world class’ and described a save to repel Anastasios Douvikas’ downward header as Gordon Banks-esque.
Bogdan was reunited with former Bolton manager Lennon last month on a loan deal from Liverpool and is thrilled to have earned plaudits for his contribution against Tripolis.
Bogdan said: ‘There are some nights when it all goes your way and others when it doesn’t. Even when everything falls into place, you can never get carried away.
‘I prepared well last week and I feel that showed on the pitch but maybe on another occasion Asteras would have scored three goals, who knows? You need to stay calm and not get carried away just because you’ve made a couple of saves. Thankfully, it all worked out well.
‘I now feel as though I’m back, both physically and mentally. It was a good compliment to get from the gaffer, although I haven’t see the save back yet. I know of Gordon Banks and I know his famous save for England against Brazil (in the 1970 World Cup finals) but he managed to do it on a bigger stage.’
Bogdan sustained the ACL tear whilst on loan at Wigan in November 2016 and admits countless aborted comeback attempts compounded his disappointment at being sidelined.
He added: ‘The spell during my time out injured was so frustrating. I was on loan at Wigan from Liverpool and my recovery didn’t go as planned.
‘Every time I stepped on to the pitch, the time for my recovery was pushed back due to having fluid on my knee.
‘I needed to get a needle in it to try to get the fluid reduced and then wait for that to happen and start all over again.
‘That’s how it was for me for 18 months, despite initially being told the injury would only keep me out for eight months. It was a hard time for me. I struggled a bit as there was never enough progress.’
Bogdan, who is now set to make his Premiership debut in today’s visit of Motherwell, admits the injury soured what was a fairytale switch to Anfield from Bolton in 2015.
He added: ‘My time there started well. I had a couple of good games and then some not so good games.
‘I went on loan but a big chunk of my Liverpool career has been spent either in the gym or with the physio.
‘I managed to be part of a club that played in a Europa League final and a Champions League final, so it’s been a good experience.’
Hibs boss Lennon, meanwhile, admits watching his team avoid joining Scottish football’s endless list of glorious failures in Europe will give the players a huge lift.
The Leith side rode their luck at times in Greece but Lennon admits surviving a second-half onslaught gave him much satisfaction.
He said: ‘It can only give the players that extra belief and confidence. At 2-0 down in the first leg at half-time, I’m thinking it’s a typical Scottish performance.
‘It’s easy chances and we’ve given away sloppy goals, but you’re thinking that there is a bit of character in this team and a bit of ability as well.
‘We didn’t show enough of that in the second half in Greece but we have to respect the opposition.
‘On reflection, I’m feeling very good. It was nice to be on that flight home knowing you’re in the next round. It’s a good feeling and it will give the players a lift.
‘You didn’t want to be a glorious failure or get a patronising pat on the back: “good old Hibs” — but we overcame that on Thursday.’
Molde, who make the trip to Edinburgh on Thursday, now stand in Hibs’ way of a play-off round clash but Lennon insists his team go into the tie with no fears.
He added: ‘Will they be as good as Asteras? I hope not but they’re midway through their season.
‘We know Molde beat Celtic a couple of years ago and they’re a regular player in this tournament.
‘Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has vast experience as a player and he’s back for his second spell at Molde, and it seems to suit him very well.
‘They’ll be a slick outfit. I’ve not seen much of them but we had them watched on Thursday, so we’ll get into the footage early next week.
‘It will be difficult, although it’s not insurmountable for us.
‘I think Asteras had really planned for being in a European campaign, they put a bit of money in there and they were slick.’