Filip Benković

Would be gutted if he goes back in January. The guy is class and the type of defender we have been crying out for since Rodgers took over.

Like others have said I think he will go back to Leicester and start next season.

We are in the same position as the summer in relation to centre half’s we need two in, nothing has changed and I hope we have players lined up because if we end up loosing Boyata for nothing and then the big man goes back to Leicester we will end up with Hendry, Jozo and Ajer again.

 

FILIP Benkovic is looking forward to Celtic’s vital UEFA Europa League group-stage encounter against FC Salzburg tonight (Thursday), and reckons the Hoops will need to be at their very best to progress to the last 32 of the competition.

A point will ensure Brendan Rodgers’ men do just that, and, despite the fact Leicester City have the option to recall the on-loan 21-year-old centre-back in January, the young Croatian wants to add to Celtic’s success in Europe and at home from now until the end of the season.

“Leicester can bring me back in January but my wish is to stay at Celtic all season,” Benkovic said. “I came here to get trophies, to be part of it, and to help the team. The least I can do is give everything I have on the pitch.

“Tonight will be very special. It’s a very important game for us. We know how good Salzburg are, they have good players. We must focus 100 per cent in this game. We must believe that we can take positives from it.

“For me, our Europa League games are very important. We are playing at a high level and those teams are top and have players who have played for many years at this level. This experience for me is amazing. I can learn a lot and I want to play at this level for many more games. Every day I’m learning and I think have plenty of room to progress. My goal is to play every year in top European competitions.”

Benkovic praised tonight’s visitors to Celtic Park, with FC Salzburg go into Group B’s final match having won all five games so far. However, he reckons the Paradise faithful has, as always, a crucial role to play on the night.

This was especially true when the Hoops overcame RB Leipzig 2-1 at Celtic Park last month, and while the 21-year-old was delighted with three points, he chooses not to dwell on past results.

“Playing in front of the Celtic fans is fantastic,” he said. “They give you power, they give you strength. For 90 minutes they are on fire, and you can only enjoy this in football. Their support will be important because when the stadium is full, it’s crazy. That’s very nice to play football in.

“Leipzig at home was a very special night. That game was like every other game – the most important in the group. In the Europa League, every game is like the last one because every point means a lot in the future. That night was very important and I was very proud of that game.

“I don’t think about it anymore, though, and I don’t think about the past. In football, you must always focus on the future. Focusing on the past won’t help you, so all of our focus is on tonight. We must play one-for-one and stay behind each other throughout the whole 90 minutes.

“This competition is very hard and very competitive. There are many teams who put in top performances and have top players. If we get through it will be a big achievement for us. The game tonight, we must be patient and believe that we can take a good result. We must and give everything thing to go through to the next round.”

 

This all sad but true

 

Shame we live in a time where crazy money is passed to teams completely unworthy of it. For me benkovic *should* be completely within our financial reach. But in this crazy world of football even Leicester can afford to loan him out. Meantime we are left kicking ourselves we didn't move for him sooner. Like to think one day that'll change.

In the meantime it's a pleasure having him on board. If we are to progress tonight he will play a big part too

 

An absolutely sensational player..

Has everything..

 

Absolute monster, an unbelievably good player.

 

Best striker we’ve got IMO.

 

Hey, van Dijk was used as an emergency CF at Gronningen. Maybe we could give Filip a chance up front?

 

He’s something else man.

 

Our best player tonight, just ahead of KT.

 

He's like a cracking burd who's put you firmly in the friendzone.

You'd love him to be ours but it's just not happening and it's sad.

 

Class act of a player, gutted we couldn't get him signed before leicester

 

Better than Edouard.

 

Big man showed Edouard how to bully a defence single handedly in the last 15 mins, class player.

 

He was in our financial reach, we missed the boat despite having our eye on him. Can’t blame other teams for our inadequences.

 

Think you missed my point mate. I agree we should have got him when we had the chance. The point being is that it's a crazy world we live in, when Leicester can pay £13M for a player and then loan him to us

 

He's * brilliant.

Kept my eye on him especially last night, just so * cool and calm under pressure, dominating and smart as *.

Brilliant all round CB, not one of these pansy new-age ball fondlers you get as a "Defender" nowadays.

 

Nah, £13m is * all these days. A team that were in the CL last year and won one of the biggest leagues in the world a year before? It’s definitely not crazy that they can buy a young, promising player for a decent fee and loan him to us.

 

No bad striker anaw