Source: Team_Talk
Croatic chief reveals pride in Klasnic
Klasnic is likely to be on the bench for Croatia in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against England and, as always, he will wear a protective band around his lower back.
The 29-year-old has been doing that ever since having two life-saving kidney transplants, but it is an inspiration to Bilic that he is playing at all.
"We are proud of him. He is a very strong personality," Bilic said in the Sunday Express. "When we rang him during his dark days he actually ended up raising our morale by his positive attitude."
Klasnic, then with Werder Bremen, received his first kidney transplant from his mother in January 2007, but his body rejected the organ and he underwent surgery again in March to replace the kidney with one from his father.
The Nantes star, on a season-long loan at the Reebok Stadium, was unable to train for six months but he eventally fought his way back into the Bremen team and then the national side too.
Klasnic said of his fight: "I always looked upon it as God giving me a challenge but he also gave me the tools to overcome it.
"It's simple in life. If you want to overcome obstacles then you have to fight."
