Connor Goldson had praise for Nikola Katic during today’s press conference, as followed by RangersTV.
The Gers vice-captain has had multiple centre-back partners across this season.
Katic was the original, and he impressed in Europa League qualifying as well as the opening weeks of the SPL season.
However, in the months leading up to Christmas, he found himself frozen out by Steven Gerrard.
Joe Worrall and Gareth McAuley fought it out to partner Goldson, with the Nottingham Forest loanee eventually winning out.
However, finally, with Rangers’ hopes of silverware gone, Katic is getting an extended run in the side again.
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“He’s done really well,” replied Goldson, as captured by RangersTV, when asked to assess Katic’s recent performances.
“He’s settled straight back in, he’s looking confident again and he’s looking the player that he was at the start of the season.
“I feel like he’s calmed down and he’s just playing his own game. He’s not being worried or nervous about having to impress.
“When he does that, he’s a top player.”
Analysis
It’s great to see Goldson backing up his current centre-back partner. Four years his junior, it’s likely that Katic sees Goldson as a player to look up to.
However, we can deduce from the Englishman’s comments, the reasons why Katic was dropped from the first team for an extended period.
Fans were indignant and even started a social media campaign. Yet, his own teammate is recognising here that Katic had become too frenetic at the back.
Composure and confidence are key to performing well in any position. These comments suggest the young Croatian temporarily lost both, but now he’s back to his old self and Rangers have three clean sheets in four, to show for it.
