Rodgers explains Simunovic’s international u-turn
Britain Football Soccer - Aberdeen v Celtic - Scottish League Cup Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 27/11/16 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Celtic's Jozo Simunovic celebrate after the match Reuters / Russell Cheyne Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Brendan Rodgers has explained the reasons behind Jozo Simunovic’s international u-turn.
In midweek the Bosnian FA announced that the Celtic defender had turned down the invitation to be part of their squad to face Bulgaria and Sweden.
Simunovic has been capped by Croatia from u-14 to u-21 level but earlier this season after being snubbed for a full cap decided to switch allegiance to Bosnia.
In-between times the defender’s form has collapsed with Rodgers deciding to shed some light on the international dilemma facing the player.
“He spoke to me in the week,” Rodgers told the Evening Times. “It’s simple, really.
“He had a respect for the coach of Bosnia, who is a highly regarded former Croatian player (Robert Prosinecki).
“I think he felt he could go there and maybe have a better chance of playing but he has been really honest and brave in his decision. When he went there, it didn’t feel right.
“Croatia is in his heart but also I think he felt he would be taking the place of a Bosnian player who really wants to play for Bosnia. If there was any doubt with him, he didn’t want to be in the position of blocking someone else.
“What was also brave is that he was going to ring the coach and tell him. I know sometimes the player gives you the story and then asks you to ring the coach.”
After his sending off at Ibrox Simunovic will miss Celtic’s next two matches due to suspension.
Celtic signed the defender from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015 as a replacement for Virgil van Dijk but his time with the hoops has been dogged by injury.
The emergence of Kris Ajer into the Celtic defence has put his place in doubt with Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper available for Sunday’s match at Motherwell.