They never spoke to me at Cardiff/ just said they were happy

Filip Benkovic is hoping for a “fresh start” at Leicester City’s sister club OH Leuven after admitting “it made no sense” to stay at Cardiff.



Leicester Mercury

Tuesday 12th January 2021

The Croatian centre-back was recalled from his Bluebirds loan stint last week after making just one appearance and will now spend the rest of the campaign in Belgium, joining fellow City loanees Kamal Sowah and Josh Eppiah there, as well as club icon Andy King.



Game-time is the focus for Benkovic who has played just 18 senior matches over the past two calendar years, and he quickly realised he wasn’t going to get that in Wales, where “they didn’t speak much to me”.

He told Leuven’s official website: “I want to play football, man! I hardly played at Cardiff City in recent months. Here I want to make a fresh start and find my best form.




“It all happened very quickly. I didn't even have time to discuss my decision with Andy King and Josh Eppiah. The ambitions of this club and the conversation with the coach (Marc Brys) convinced me to take this step.

“(At Cardiff) they didn't speak much to me there. When I asked why I barely played, I was told they were quite happy with me. But in the end, the coach opted again for the guys who were there last season. It made no sense to stay there.”



Once he gets game-time, the aim for Benkovic is to “evolve” and show again the potential he exhibited at Dinamo Zagreb, and then at Celtic.

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I'm glad he's found a club where he will play matches.

He's right when he says it made no sense for him to stay with us.

Very strange situation.

Note he says he is 23,but cant yet concentrate for 90 mins! A pitiful amount of games in last two years too,perhsps hes just not all that??

'Cardiff City didn't speak much to me' - Leicester City star Filip Benkovic speaks out after nightmare loan

The Croatian, who's sealed a loan move to Belgian side OH Leuven, believes he wasn't given a fair chance at Cardiff City

By Tom Coleman



Wednesday 13th January 2021



Filip Benkovic has hit out at his treatment at Cardiff City, and says he felt he was never given an adequate explanation for this lack of game time in the capital.

The centre-back was recalled by parent club Leicester City last week, and has now joined Wales international Andy King at Belgian side OH Leuven on loan until the end of the season.

The 23-year old is desperate for game time, having played just 18 senior matches in the last two years, and admits he feels as though he wasn't treated fairly at Cardiff City Stadium.

Speaking after his unveiling, he told Leuven's website : “I want to play football, man! I hardly played at Cardiff City in recent months. Here I want to make a fresh start and find my best form.

“It all happened very quickly. I didn't even have time to discuss my decision with Andy King and Josh Eppiah. The ambitions of this club and the conversation with the coach (Marc Brys) convinced me to take this step.

“(At Cardiff) they didn't speak much to me there. When I asked why I barely played, I was told they were quite happy with me. But in the end, the coach opted again for the guys who were there last season. It made no sense to stay there.”

Benkovic left City having made just one senior appearance - an error-ridden performance against Wycombe Wanderers which didn't impress Neil Harris.

Harris even felt the need to make a point of mentioning Benkovic's poor performance in that game after his side's latest defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

"Wycombe, we gave poor goals away, [Filip] Benkovic cost us two goals in that game," he said.

"Conceding two goals in a game we shouldn't lose."

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