BRENDAN RODGERS seemed to suggest that Jozo Simunovic could have continued in the 1-1 draw against FK Suduva on Thursday evening instead of limping off early in the second half.
But the Croatian defender has responded to any criticism that has been directed at him to stress that the pain in is ankle was so severe that he had no alternative but to go off injured.
And he has now had a scan which will determine how long he will be sidelined for. He is already out of the Hamilton game, presumably will not be risked for the return against the Lithuanian Champions but would hopefully be available for next weekend’s crucial Glasgow Derby.
Jozo spoke about what happened on Thursday evening and why he had to go off.
“When I landed I felt pain inside my ankle,” he said.
“That was the reason I came out so we will see from the scan in the next couple of days what exactly is the problem.
“The disappointing thing was that I couldn’t continue in the game because it pulled and twisted.
“If I could have continued then I would have continued, for sure.”
Simunovic, like all of the players, has been stung by the well deserved criticism that has come their way from the manager, the media and the supporters for the shocking defending that has resulted in Celtic exiting the Champions League to a side we should have beaten comfortably.
Even against the likes of Livingston, Partick Thistle and Suduva cheap goals have been conceded. The only goal of the game at Tynecastle came from a Simunovic error and cost Celtic three points and of course those three shocking goals lost to AEK Athens worked out at a loss to Celtic of £10million per goal.
No wonder Brendan Rodgers has been in a bad mood with his defenders! Here’s Jozo’s take on the problem.
“It’s very simple, we have to work on it,” Simunovic said.
“I understand what the manager means when he talks about showing more pride. He can say what he thinks. Who am I to judge?
“But we have training sessions and have to correct some things in training. That’s where you put things right and then show that out on the pitch.
“But there is no excuse, we have to be better. It can’t happen that the opposition teams score from their only chance.
“But all the players in the team need to work more. We should be better next week. We have to create chances, it’s very simple.
“We can’t score if we don’t create, like if you don’t defend well you will concede. It’s very simple but I think generally we all need to be better.
“If you have to defend with only four players then it is hard.
“But if you defend all together then we can look better. The criticism just gives extra motivation to work more.”
