A section of Celtic fans took to Twitter to hail Filip Benkovic for his performance in their club’s 1-0 Europa League win against Rosenborg on Thursday night.
The deadline day loan signing from Leicester City started alongside Dedryck Boyata in a flat back four, with Mikael Lustig and Kieran Tierney in the full-back positions.
Many Celtic followers were impressed with what they saw from Benkovic on a night when he played the full 90 minutes and the winning goal was scored by substitute Leigh Griffiths.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
COMMENTARY:
Who can blame the Celtic fans for getting excited? Forced to watch so many average centre-backs since Virgil Van Dijk pulled the Rolls Royce out of the gravel and purred south of the border, there is a sense the club have a real gem in their ranks. On first impressions, Benkovic looks a unit who is made for top-level competition. Following an impressive debut in last Friday’s otherwise forgettable goalless draw against St Mirren, the 21-year-old Croatian looked the part as Brendan Rodgers switched from a three-man defence back to a flat back four. Benkovic did not looked bothered one bit by the Rosenborg attack on a night when Celtic secured their first European group stage home win in 11 matches. That said, Celtic were once again fairly mediocre going forwards as the fans still await the thunderclap to remind everyone how good the team is. At least, they have a hugely promising centre-back in their ranks. At last.
https://twitter.com/BingBhoyJim/status/1042930639798976513
https://twitter.com/1978GLA/status/1042925979272966144
https://twitter.com/Googhan/status/1042922331637727232
Looks a good player Billy Benkovic.
— seanzolio (@seanzolio) September 20, 2018
Benkovic. Pipe and slippers tonight. Never put a foot wrong. Player
— Glasgow's Green & White (@top_tipz) September 21, 2018
Benkovic really showed how average Ajer has been. Guy is levels above.
— n/a (@ainswurf) September 20, 2018
£1m in plastic surgeon fees to make Simunovic look exactly like Benkovic before January would be money well spent #faceoff ?
— Pupster (@pupster67) September 20, 2018
Boyata is still a bombscare at times ….Benkovic looks the real deal( on first impressions) ….my choice would be a back 3 of Simonovic Benkovic and Ajer
— SmiddyBhoy (@SmiddyBhoy1) September 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/rickymcleod123/status/1042914670095597568
Struggling to put intae words how much of a player Benkovic is
— James Campbell (@underagemaddog) September 20, 2018
Benkovic will not need to wash his shirt, never broke sweat all night, he could be class ??????
— 606AlfieConn (@606AlfieConn) September 20, 2018
Benkovic was star man for me tonight. Griffiths also showed once again why he is our No.1 striker!!!! ???????
— Mark McGuire (@markmcguire04) September 20, 2018
Now, I don't really like to hype a player after a good game.
However, Filip Benkovi? is the best CB Celtic have had since Billy McNeill & I'll cry when he returns to Leicester pic.twitter.com/OTibtzYjW5
— Aidan Ritchie (@AidanRitchie27) September 20, 2018
Big Benkovic, unit.
— Chris Lammie (@chrislammie) September 20, 2018