Celtic supporters have always had a soft spot for Dariusz Dziekanowski, and now he’s sharing some wisdom about Maik Nawrocki’s chances at Parkhead. Dziekanowski, a legend in his own right, believes Nawrocki’s future with Celtic is entirely up to him. He’s keen for Nawrocki not to miss out on what could be a golden opportunity.
Nawrocki’s journey at Celtic has been a bit of a puzzle this season. Brought in from Legia Warsaw for £4.3 million as a hopeful successor to Carl Starfelt, things started off well. However, a series of minor injuries have kept him sidelined for much of the first half of the season, making it tough for him to secure a steady spot in the starting lineup. “Jackie,” a celebrated figure both at Celtic and Legia, isn’t one to speculate on the decisions of Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking to Record Sport, Dziekanowski shared, “I thought Nawrocki played quite well in the first team in the first few weeks but unfortunately got injured. It took him some time to get back to fitness but it’s been difficult to get into the starting line-up.”
He recognises the defender’s likely frustration with not playing, stating, “I know he’ll be unhappy at not playing, as every player would be, but it is his own hands. This is a big chance for him to play for a massive club.”
“There is always a lot of competition for places as a big club like Celtic and it is up to the player himself to show he should be playing. If he works hard then Brendan will give him his chance. If you don’t then you are not making the most of your opportunity at Celtic. You don’t want to have any regrets.”
Having witnessed Nawrocki’s ascent at Legia, where he quickly progressed from the B team to the senior squad and onto the national scene, Dziekanowski is familiar with the hurdles of transitioning to a club with the expectations of Celtic. He reminisced about his era at Celtic, acknowledging the challenges but also the fulfilment it brings, and he encouraged Nawrocki to thrive amidst the pressure and the fans’ support, who “are very honest. If you are working hard for the team and try your hardest, they will always get behind you.”
