During Brendan Rodgers’ tenure at Leicester City, Jannik Vestergaard found himself sidelined and rarely given the chance to play. However, things have taken a turn for the better for the center-back since Enzo Maresca took charge, showing full trust in the defender this season.
Vestergaard has repaid this faith with impressive performances, earning him a return to the Denmark national team after a 17-month absence. In an interview with Bold and other media outlets, Vestergaard expressed his happiness about his return to international football.
Despite his lack of playing time, Vestergaard never considered opting out of the national team. He felt the absence keenly and was disappointed not to be a part of something he feels such a strong connection to. Missing out on being selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was particularly painful, as he watched his teammates from a distance, knowing he could have contributed.
However, Vestergaard is now focused on the present and is grateful for the opportunity Kasper Hjulmand has given him in the Denmark team. His return to international football holds significant career and emotional importance for him.
Under Maresca, the 31-year-old has been a regular starter in all but one of the 16 Championship games this season, totaling 1350 minutes of football. This is a significant increase from the 193 minutes he played last season, all in cup matches under Brendan Rodgers.
