Dariusz Dziekanowski reckons that the change in the managerial guard at Celtic this summer might end up helping Patryk Klimala make a breakthrough to become a regular starter at his old club.
Dziekanowski has been left somewhat underwhelmed by his fellow Pole’s contribution to the Celtic cause in his first 18 months at the club, after he had given the striker, signed for £3.5million from Jagiellona Bialystok last January, such a big build-up.
Klimala has managed just five starting appearances so far this season but has been Celtic’s most used substitute coming off the bench, or more accurately in the Covid hit season, out of the stands, on 22 occasions. Now with a manager coming in to kick-off a new era Celtic, Big Jacki reckons it’s approaching make or break time for Patryk if he is to make a name for himself in Scottish football as a top Celtic striker.
“There will be a lot of changes at Celtic this summer with a new manager coming in,” Jacki said, as reported by Daily Record. “He will have his own ideas and I would think he’d want to bring in new players to lift the team. But it could be a fresh start for Patryk. It has been difficult for him at Celtic so far but this could be an opportunity for him to show what he can do.
“This is a big summer for Patryk and his Celtic career. It could be make or break for him. I expect Odsonne Edouard to be sold for big money at the end of the season so the door could be open for him,” the former Celtic striker added. “No doubt Celtic will be thinking about buying another striker but he should see this as a chance for him to save the club some money by becoming the main forward.”
Dziekanowski gets that it will have been a frustrating season for his fellow countryman as he tries to make the breakthrough at his old club.
“I feel for him as it’s been a difficult spell for him. He would have wanted to have played more games than he has done so far. Edouard has been the first choice striker and he’s had to be patient. But you also have to take in account the circumstances. He arrived in the January and football stopped just a few weeks later.
“It’s not easy when you move to a new country but it’s especially hard right now when the country is in lockdown and you cannot be meeting people in cafes or restaurants. The other side of it is there are no distractions – all you can think about is football. That’s no bad thing sometimes!”
Dziekanowski reckons that the pressure on Celtic this season to try to get the Ten over the line hasn’t done the fringe players like Klimala any favours this season. “It was also such a big season for Celtic. He’s a young player and there maybe were not the same opportunities to try things when there was so much at stake. You need to be mentally strong though,” he said.
“I feel sorry for him as he’s not had the feeling you get of playing in front of the Celtic supporters. When I was at the club we are not doing so well but the warmth I got from the fans was something I’ll never forget. The empty stadiums are not the same and I’m sure he will be inspired by the atmosphere when it comes back.
“The big advantage he has got is his age. He is still only 22-years-old and he will improve. I would have loved to have joined Celtic when I was that age. I was 26 when I came and it was a tremendous move for me, even if it was a difficult time for the club.
“But if I was 21 I would be thinking it was an opportunity to develop at a huge club, hopefully perform well and then who knows where you can go. Klimala will have believed this could have been a route for him to maybe eventually play in the top leagues like England or Germany. He has to make an impact at Celtic first though.
“I know he spent last summer working on his fitness and building himself up. That’s good, but it’s also a mental thing. It is up to him to have the desire to be a Celtic player. He has to ask himself, am I happy being on the edges, or maybe going out of loan?
“Or am I going to fight and show the new management team I can be a big player at this club? Patryk has the ability but only he has the answer. You can’t leave anything on the shelf at Celtic.
“You don’t get time to find yourself, you need to make an impression whenever you get the chance. It’s a big season ahead for Celtic as they need to win the title back from (the)Rangers and progress in Europe,” the former Celtic Fans favourite said, and he’s bang on the money there.
For those too young to remember Dariusz Dziekanowski in the Hoops and those wanting to enjoy a wee trip down memory lane, we’ll post a tribute article from Niall J this morning on the Polish striker who certainly enjoyed himself while at Celtic – on and off the park!
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