Katić played 240 minutes in the World Cup playoff for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team and was one of the key players in securing the World Cup qualification. His performances, during which he played slightly injured, have taken their toll, so our defender now faces a somewhat longer break.
"The World Cup qualifiers came at a high cost for me. I got injured, which will keep me off the field for the next few weeks, which are very important for us. Although I had a strong desire to continue playing, I couldn't ignore the doctors' advice. It saddens me deeply that I have let my team down during this crucial period of the season, but I will do everything possible to support them in any way. I will also do everything in my power to be available again as soon as possible. Together, we can take these final steps," Katić wrote on Instagram yesterday.
Immediately, his teammates from the Dragons' jersey began to respond, including Edin Džeko, and a particularly emotional and strong message was sent by his coach, Miron Muslić.
The Schalke coach emphasized that Katić gave everything for his country and that he will never be alone.
"You give everything for your country and club. You sacrifice yourself daily for the benefit of everyone around you. That is the complete opposite of letting someone down. In essence, it is an inspiration. Keep your head up, Nikola. You are a Schalke player and you are never alone," Muslić wrote to him.
Incidentally, Katić is dealing with an unpleasant knee injury, and it is not known when he will return to the field. What is known is that he played the matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Wales and Italy under painkilling injections.