FILIP Benkovic joined Celtic on loan in 2018, just three weeks after his £13 million move to Leicester City from Dinamo Zagreb.
The centre–back made a big impact too, featuring heavily during the first half of the campaign and establishing himself as a fans‘ favourite. He also starred on the European stage, helping Brendan Rodgers‘ side overcome RB Leipzig at Parkhead.
Rodgers‘ departure from the Bhoys left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Celtic fans, but Benkovic had viewed the Northern Irishman’s departure in a different light as he took over at his parent club.
However, when the stopper was reunited with Rodgers at the King Power Stadium later that summer, things didn‘t go as planned and he failed to make a single Premier League appearance.
He told Football Scotland:
“When he left for Leicester, in my mind it was good because I’m coming back probably at the end of the season and he knows me. Everything can be positive and very good for me. But at the end of the season, I had this injury, I was coming back and playing a couple of games [at Celtic].
“Then the international break came, some players said they couldn’t play so I played and pushed too much. I then came to pre-season [at Leicester] injured, so that was my fault at the beginning. I came to pre-season not ready and some of the other guys got a chance and took it.”
Neil Lennon was quickly installed as Rodgers‘ replacement as the Northern Irishman returned for a second stint in charge. Benkovic would only make two starts under his new boss, but the 25–year–old doesn‘t hold any hard feelings.
“It was a good relationship with Neil and also with Brendan, those two are great managers”, he says. “It was just that part when you get some bigger injury, and you push more than you should. I was in that circle where I killed myself.
“I don’t blame any of them, it was just my way of doing some things which I could have handled better. I take all responsibility for that for not playing in those moments, it’s all on me.”
