Johansen takes extended leave from Celtic

The Norwegian midfielder hasn’t reached the same levels of last season that saw him lift the Players’ Player of the Year award.

Instead, Ronny Deila will give his fellow countryman an extended leave from the Celtic team, in order to help restore his confidence and get back to his best in the Hoops shirt.

Johansen arrived in January 2014 whilst Neil Lennon was in charge and later that year, his former manager at Stromsgodest, Deila, joined him in Glasgow.

Last season, he recorded 13 goals and 10 assists for Celtic in 56 appearances, as he became a mainstay player in midfield. Deila’s familiarity from their days in Norway also helped his chances in the team and adapting to how Deila wants his team to play.

This season he has almost half that already, scoring four goals and getting five assists, which upon reflection isn’t a bad return. Especially considering his last contribution came in September, as he scored Celtic’s second against Raith Rovers.

However, it’s his overall play that has plummeted and level of performance leaving Deila with no choice but to drop him several times this year. It’s also his inability to add goals or assists to his game in six consecutive matches.

After his disappointment of failing to progress for his national team against Hungary in the Euro play-off and subsequently receiving the worst ratings in the team, Deila had to take action.

As quoted by the Daily Express, he said:

When Stefan was fantastic last year, he wasn’t that fantastic. Now he’s not that bad. It’s somewhere in between.

You could say he hasn’t been as good as last year but last season everything was positive.

But he will come back from it and be even stronger and better. It’s not about attitude, it’s about focus.

Deila has omitted the 24-year-old from today’s matchday squad against Kilmarnock at Paradise as part of his rebuilding process to get him back to his best.

He will also miss Thursday night’s game against Ajax through suspension, having picked up a yellow card in three of the four group stage matches in the Europa League this season.

This decision to take him out of the firing line will please fans who have called for him to be dropped for some time. Ultimately, it’s whether he can start climbing the ladder again after his extended break, or will his poor form continue.