The big Croat played his part in Celtic’s 3-0 drubbing of Aberdeen.
Neil Lennon has told Celtic’s official website that he didn’t know Jozo Simunovic boasted the ‘technical ability’ that he does, following Sunday’s 3-0 win over Aberdeen.
Celtic cruised into the final of the Scottish Cup with a simple win over the Dons, who wound up finishing the game with nine men due to red card for Dominic Ball and Lewis Ferguson in each half.
Simunovic has been a first-team regular under the Hoops’ interim boss in recent weeks, with the 24-year-old not one of the players who Lennon previously managed at Parkhead.
At 6’3, the former Dinamo Zagreb centre-back is very much a physical specimen, but the Northern Irishman admitted to the club’s official website that he didn’t know he had such technique in his locker.
He said: “I thought Jozo was absolutely fantastic and I’m delighted for him.
“He’s had a horrific time with injuries and we’ve been trying to manage him through it. I thought he set the tone for the rest of the team. He handled Sam Cosgrove well in the physical battle and showed technical ability that I’ve never seen before from him.”
Simunovic wouldn’t have lasted long under Brendan Rodgers if he wasn’t a ball-playing central defender and a lot of Bhoys fans know how tidy he can be in possession.
But Celtic will still need better options this summer. Dedryck Boyata is set to leave on a Bosman, while Filip Benkovic will return to Rodgers’s Leicester City.
Simunovic is good, but there are definitely better options out there and Lennon – if he gets the long-term job – needs to find them.
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