Rodgers praise for player he’s strangely never really rated

The Celtic Star

·18 March 2025

Rodgers praise for player he’s strangely never really rated

Despite Celtic’s 3-2 home defeat to theRangers, Brendan Rodgers commended Maik Nawrocki for his impressive performance…

Cyriel Dessers fouls Maik Nawrocki during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Celtic v theRangers, 16 March 2025. Photo O’Rourke Shutterstock

Having faced limited game time due to injuries and squad competition since his arrival from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023, Nawrocki was thrust into Sunday’s high-pressure showdown.

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Amid the difficult circumstances and collectively abysmal first half, Rodgers admired the 24-year-old’s performance and his endurance throughout the full 90 minutes.

Nawrocki one of the few Celtic highlights on Sunday

“I thought he done really well,” the Celtic manager said. “I said that to him afterwards in the changing room. There weren’t too many highlights for us. But certainly, for him, for a guy that’s not played virtually for a year, it shows you how well he’s trained and how professional he’s been. So, I thought he done really, really well to last the game”

Having featured only twice as a substitute this season, Nawrocki made his Scottish Premiership debut in the encounter. Injuries ruled out both Auston Trusty and Liam Scales for Celtic.

Maik Nawrocki moves in as Cyriel Dessers battles for the ball with Cameron Carter-Vickers during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Celtic v theRangers, 16 March 2025. Photo O Rourke/Shutterstock

Nawrocki was only one of a select few who earned pass-marks during Sunday’s display. The centre-back was Celtic’s most competent defender as unfortunately he was surrounded by Schlupp, Carter-Vickers, Johnston and Schmeichel who made continuous errors and heaped ludicrous pressure on themselves.

Nawrocki deserves a chance

The stand-in defender has possibly edged up the pecking order and between now and the end of the season, Rodgers can rely on Nawrocki should such unavailability of Scales and Trusty occur again. Scales is set to get an operation and that would mean his season is effectively over.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. Photo: The Celtic Star.