Stefan Johansen is proving Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wrong with his form in the Championship with Fulham.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Within a couple of months of Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at Celtic last summer, Stefan Johansen was given the chance to leave Parkhead for Fulham after rejecting a new deal with the Hoops (via ITV).
And while the deal probably seemed to make a lot of sense at the time – the midfielder was entering the final year of his contract – the 26-year-old’s form in the Championship perhaps suggests that Rodgers was too hasty to give Johansen’s move to Fulham the green light.
The midfielder has been sensational for the Cottagers this season, having contributed seven goals and seven assists for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side to help them go into the final weeks of the campaign with an excellent chance of securing a play-off spot.
So was it a mistake to let him leave?
While Celtic pair Stuart Armstrong and Scott Brown have been impressive this term, having a Johansen in the form that he is currently in amongst the squad would undoubtedly be a major plus for the Bhoys, especially if he had been playing so well while they were in the Champions League.
Stefan Johansen of Fulham in action with Jack Colback of Newcastle United
Some will suggest that Celtic were backed into a corner given his contract situation, but it would have surely been extremely difficult for the Norway international to turn down fresh terms if he had been a part of the current Hoops team that seem to be developing rapidly under Rodgers.
Rodgers has not made many mistakes in his time with the Hoops, but perhaps his apparent decision not to fight harder to keep Johansen at the club has proved to be a bad call based on what he has done at Fulham.
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