WE didn’t see much of Jozo Simunovic after that ‘Red Red Red’ shout on the first of the three Beautiful Sundays – still loving the fact that the club is playing this tune now!
Jozo did get on on Saturday though for the last quarter of an hour at Hampden and will be hoping that he’ll have turned a corner after his sending off and then dropping out of the team to make way for the Boyata / Ajer partnership to flourish.
But the big Croatian is determined to stay and fight for his place in the Celtic team next season.
“The second half of the season was frustrating but by the end it was okay for me.
“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,” Jozo said.
“He explained it to me and I’m still very happy here. I cannot tell you what he said to me – that must remain personal. But it was a very good conversation. He speaks with every player so it was nothing strange that he spoke to me.
“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. My contract is here for another three years and I’m ready for that.
“It was a nice feeling to get on the pitch at Hampden and the most important thing was that we won and got the treble again. I’m very proud.
“It was something special to win another treble and to be part of that on the pitch is very special. Every player wants to play but there’s no problem if others get on. If I didn’t make it on the pitch, then I don’t have an issue.”
It was an eventful campaign for Simunovic with his Ibrox sending off and the bizarre switch in national allegiance from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina and back again, all of which must have been rather unsettling for the player personally.
“It’s been a difficult season for me but I took those decisions for myself and for sure I’m a stronger man for it.
“Every footballer has his ups and downs and you have to take the right messages from these experiences. I had a conversation with the Bosnia manager and everything was fine,”said Simunovic.
“Now I have to forget that and go 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.”
Have you got one of these? Beautiful Sunday should be celebrated all summer long…
Listen to “John Paul Taylor with A Celtic State of Mind (Part 2/3)” on Spreaker.
