Gary Rowett has revealed he tried to sign Krystian Bielik before Birmingham City acquired the Poland international.
Blues fought hard to bring Bielik back to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park last summer after a successful loan spell from Derby County. Bielik, 26, mulled over other offers before committing to Blues on a three-year contract.
Rowett - who has previously managed Bielik’s former club Derby, Stoke City and Millwall in the Championship - has admired the midfielder for some time. And he detailed the extent of his interest in Bielik on the eve of Blues’ trip to Rotherham.
“I had a conversation with him before he came to Blues,” Rowett told BirminghamLive. "He’s a player that we would have liked to have signed. You can see the type of player that he is, he gives you great flexibility in the squad.
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“He’s someone who can play in the middle of a back three and step out into midfield. He can go and play there for 20 minutes if the game (requires it). You can play different formations with a player like that in the team.
“His biggest challenge has always been the same, he suffered some injuries at the start of his career and sometimes it’s hard to find that rhythm as a player, but he has felt that here and got into that rhythm. I see him as a big, big player for these final games.
“I think he’s got a little bit of everything in his game. And he’s probably performed as well as anyone since I’ve got here.”
Bielik showed his flexibility with a commanding display at centre-back as Blues battered Coventry City 3-0 last weekend. Not only did Bielik help Blues to their ninth league clean sheet of the campaign, he also orchestrated the passing move which led to Jay Stansfield’s game clinching third goal.
On Bielik’s star turn against the Sky Blues, Rowett added: “We have to make good use of Krystian. Of course you would love every player to play in the same position every game and build that continuity and confidence, but there’s times in games where we need certain things.
“I thought he gave us a little bit more stability. He’s good on the ball coming out from the back and gives us the opportunity to build out. First and foremost, I thought he defended really well.”
