Brendan Rodgers and Celtic have a concern after Kasper Schmeichel picked up an injury in Denmark’s UEFA Nations League defeat to Portugal at the Estádio da Luz on Sunday.
Portugal overcame Denmark in extra time to win the two-legged tie 5-3 on aggregate.
During the first half of extra time, the Celtic player suffered a shoulder injury. Brian Riemer, the Denmark manager, wasn’t able to replace the 38-year-old as the visitors had completed all six substitutions.
This forced the Celtic goalkeeper to continue on the pitch. According to BT, Schmeichel was ‘in pain’ and taken to a hospital in Lisbon for examinations. After the tie, the former Anderlecht manager provided an update on the national team captain.
“He is being examined further with our doctor right now. I don’t know where they are exactly,” he said.
The manager insists he would have taken off the Celtic star after he picked up an injury but explains why he let him continue.
“I would have 100% replaced Schmeichel if I had more substitutions, because he was injured,” Riemer explained.
“When Portugal scored 4-2, I replaced Conrad Harder so that he could score a goal, and then I had to hope that my goalkeeper did not get injured, but he did.
“Rasmus Kristensen wanted to take the goal, but Schmeichel didn’t want to go out himself. When he doesn’t want to go out himself, we don’t take him out. And as long as he could stand in goal, it was an advantage to have 11 men on the field.”
BT say the national team will leave for Denmark on Monday. The next few hours should provide more clarity on Schmeichel’s injury situation.
Brendan Rodgers and Celtic will be closely watching the developments around the star stopper.
