Maik Nawrocki Talks About His Celtic Champions League Omission

Maik Nawrocki’s omission from Celtic’s Champions League came as a notable disappointment. The Poland international had just been brought in from Legia Warszawa for five million euros, and many immediately expected him to contribute.

It was not to be, though, because, in the dying embers of one of his maiden appearances for the Hoops against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, the centre-half suffered a strenuous hamstring injury. It kept him out for a prolonged period and cost Nawrocki a place in his team’s squad for the Champions League.

Because of the rules regarding homegrown players, it was difficult for Brendan Rodgers to keep his deep squad happy. Naturally, there were going to be some noteworthy absentees, Nawrocki being one.

It would have been painstaking for the Pole to see his centre-half colleagues get regular minutes in Europe’s premier club competition, and the 22-year-old recently admitted his lack of inclusion was difficult to accept, but he soon grew to comprehend why the decision was made.

Nawrocki was speaking at a press conference for the launch of the new Scottish ‘Match Attax’ collection: “Not playing in the Champions League was hard to take”, he said (The Celtic Way).

“I was injured and could understand the decision on why I wasn’t named in the squad.

“I hope now we qualify next season and I will get that chance. I went to all the games and was in the stand, it was quite amazing but it was hard not to play.”