MOUSSA DEMBELE has sent Celtic a message of thanks while saying that the game will not be a friendly as Lyon look to bounce back from a defeat to Steven Gerrard’s Rangers on Thursday night. The Frenchman left Celtic in August 2018 for Lyon but has always been well regarded by the supporters for all that he achieved during his time in Glasgow.
🗣️ @MDembele_10 is looking forward to facing former club @CelticFC in #OLCEL on Saturday… pic.twitter.com/5UXxmTXoty
— OL English 🇬🇧 (@OL_English) July 17, 2020
Speaking to the OL website, Dembele previewed the fixture against his former club, detailing what Celtic meant to him and how he was feeling about the game.
Was your time at Celtic an important period in your career?
“Yes, it was the club that gave me confidence and allowed me to show my quality. And I cannot thank them enough for all they have done for me.”
Why is this club so special?
“It’s a big club in Europe, with fans all over the world. I still support them myself.”
How are you feeling about facing your old club and team-mates?
“I’m very happy to play against them. I spent two superb years there and I will not forget any of my time spent in Glasgow. Indeed, it’s exciting to play against my former team-mates, especially since I know almost 90 per cent of the squad. I am in regular contact with them.”
What type of match should we expect, even if it’s a friendly?
“At Olympique Lyonnais, there are no friendly matches. We will go out to win. We have to impose our game on the pitch and, despite my good years at Celtic, I am now a Lyon player and I will give everything for my club.”
After a falling-out with Brendan Rodgers, Dembele left for Lyon in a bargain £20m deal on the final day of the transfer window. Although there was an initial divide in the support about the way he left, Dembele returned at the end of the season to celebrate with his former teammates and has continued to speak highly of the club.
In the 9IAR celebrations earlier this year, Dembele called Celtic ‘the greatest club in the world’. Dembele was a fan favourite instantly with a hat-trick against Rangers at Celtic Park. He scored 51 goals in 94 appearances across the two seasons, winning six trophies during his trophy-laden spell in Glasgow.
.@btsportfootball Tomorrow night 2145 BT Sport 1 Celtic’s 9-in-a-row show🍀 Hear from Neil Lennon, Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig plus @MDembele_10 on his brilliant spell… here is a snippet of what Moussa had to say🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/D77f5ESKIb
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) May 22, 2020
