In a recent column with The Scottish Sun, ex-Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart shared his thoughts on Jozo Simunovic’s performance for Celtic in their 3-1 second-leg loss at the hands of København in the UEFA Europa League earlier this week. In his column, Stewart wrote, “The Celtic boss is going to need all of his players if his side are to win the Treble.
“And that includes Simunovic, even though I don’t think he’s good enough for this Hoops team. Thursday’s game proved it.
“His error for the Danes’ first goal was catastrophic, but in terms of Celtic’s season, the result was a disappointment as opposed to a disaster.”
Stewart makes a valid point regarding Simunovic’s performance in midweek, so the upcoming match against St. Johnstone could be the perfect opportunity for the Glaswegian giants to bounce back by securing their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. With Rangers eliminated, the road looks clear for a Celtic treble yet again.
Simunovic’s Season Has Been Ravaged By Injuries
The Croatian defender missed a major chunk of this campaign due to a serious injury which has hampered his progress at Parkhead. He has still managed to feature in 16 matches for the Hoops this term, scoring one goal and registering one assist in all competitions. More importantly, Simunovic’s performance at the defensive end has been far from convincing as he has been guilty of making some high-profile errors at the back over the past few weeks.
ln-Depth Analysis Of Simunovic’s Performance Vs København In Europe
There is no denying that the Zagreb-born talent’s poor display versus København cost Celtic big time as they were eliminated from Europe on Thursday night, much to the disappointment of the home supporters at Celtic Park. However, if we deep dive into his stats over the two legs, it is evident that he was responsible for making some crucial contributions in defence as well.
Simunovic had averaged 1.0 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 3.0 clearances after playing a total of 96 minutes over the two legs versus the Danish outfit in the Europa League (stats via whoscored). Due to his meltdown during the latter stages of the second leg, it is easy to overlook all the good work that he put in on the pitch.
What Does The European Defender Bring To The Table?
Even though Simunovic is prone to making mistakes now and then, he has been a decent squad player at Parkhead thus far. He has formed a good understanding with Kristoffer Ajer and Christopher Jullien on the defensive end of the pitch. When playing at his best, the Croatian centre-back can be a commanding presence as he has the strength to overpower the opposition inside his own box. As evidenced by his stats against København, he can also win the ball back for his side and is not shy about making no-nonsense clearances for the benefit of his team.
Should Lennon Cut Simunovic Loose Next Summer?
Neil Lennon refused to blame Simunovic for Celtic’s loss in midweek but whether he opts to trust the defender for the crucial cup clash away at St. Johnstone remains to be seen. Even if the 25-year-old can find a way to help his side win the domestic treble this season, Lennon should consider moving him on this summer so that he can bring in a more capable replacement in the future. Simunovic can also benefit from a change of scenery as he needs to make a fresh start if he intends to reignite his career in European football.
The towering centre-back’s current contract at Celtic Park expires at the end of next season. Therefore, the Hoops must look to cash in on him or else risk losing him for free next year.
