Erik Sviatchenko is unhappy with his current situation at Celtic, and has been speaking to Danish newspaper BT about it. Falling down the pecking order as far as Brendan Rodgers is concerned, Sviatchenko finds himself having to fight his way back.
Used to being a regular, the defender has told BT it’s a new scenario for him: “Since January, I have not figured as much as I had hoped. It is the first time in my career, I have sat on the bench and not been selected, although in fact I’m fit. It is not optimal and it is a new situation I must deal with.”
That doesn’t mean Sviatchenko is in any mood to throw the towel in or look for pastures new just yet. The 25 year old believes he’s at the right club to develop and is determined to convince Rodgers that he should be first choice for Celtic on a consistent basis: “If he has decided that I am third choice, I will do everything to prove that I must be one of the two in the middle. And the thing that strikes me is that I train really well, and I feel in good shape. Right now it’s frustrating.”
Whilst Sviatchenko said he doesn’t see himself leaving Celtic soon, and feels he can grow as a player at the Glasgow club, he did add he’s not prepared to stay on the bench for a year.
The Dane will simply have to continue working hard in training and hope the effort is noticed by Rodgers, and rewarded with a firm starting place in the Celtic team.
