NEIL LENNON has added three new signings to his Celtic squad, was unlucky to have missed out on David Turnbull (for now at least) and is in the hunt for a fourth new signing later today. That could be OGC Nice full-back Romain Perraud who spent last season on loan at Paris FC and is keen to play in the Champions League.
Celtic have had two bids rejected for the left back but Lenny hopes it will be third time lucky as he seeks to add to his French foreign legion operating at Parkhead.
???? New signing Boli Bolingoli is about to address the media in his first news conference at Celtic Park #WelcomeBoli pic.twitter.com/jxAul697ED
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 4, 2019
“I feel really grateful to be here. Celtic is the best club in Scotland and I’m happy to be part of the family.” Boli Bolingoli said at today’s media conference.
I want to write some history at this club. I think the fans will love me as I give 100% on the pitch.
“I can’t wait to play in the Champions League at this stadium in front of these fans.
“I’m an offensive player, I like to have the ball. Celtic play that way too. I have to show my qualities then I will get my chance.
“I’m here. It’s a new challenge in the same colours and I can’t wait to start and have a great season here,” Boli Bolingoli said.
We have been telling you about Turnbull, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, Jullien, Connell and Perraud on The Celtic Star as the main targets – while avoiding the uninformed, click-baiting stuff.
Lenny has seen more than a team-full of players leave – De Vries (who just announced his retirement – see HERE), Boyata, Lustig, Gamboa, Izaguirre, Allan, Mulumbu, Burke, Toljan, Benkovic and Weah have all left.
As a team the players who have left could play in this formation, and we’ve all seen worse teams play in the Hoops than this one!
De Vries
Lustig, Boyata, Benkovic, Izaguirre
Toljan, Mulumbu, Allan, Gamboa
Burke and Weah
That’s quite a turn-around in the playing squad, before anyone is actually sold, and there has been plenty of speculation surrounding Kieran Tierney and Olivier Ntcham in particular with both Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic all being linked with moves away.
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo joins Christopher Jullien and Luca Connell in the new look Celtic side that began to take shape as Neil Lennon’s own side – playing under his direction and preferred tactics – in the summer training camp and matches in Austria and Switzerland.
The players are now back in Scotland and enjoying a day off before they turn their attention to the vital game in Sarajevo on Tuesday as Celtic begin their 8 game campaign to reach the Group stages of the Champions League.
“It’s been very successful trip,” Neil Lennon said to the official site, as he reflected on the four matches played on the tour and the fitness work that was done in the intense Alpine heat.
“We’ve got a lot of good work in over the last 10 days and we’re pretty much injury-free, although we’ll need to check out how Bayo’s going to be after the second game,” the manager said. It does look like Bayo has had a reoccurrence of his hamstring problem and will moss the Champions League early rounds.
“He felt his hamstring in training the other day. There was a little bit of tightness, so he will have a scan to see if there is any extra damage,” Lenny confirmed.
???? The #TrebleTreble Winners. Away day ready for 19/20.
The New Balance #CelticFC Away Kit is now available.#OnToVictory @NBFootball
Get yours today ➡️ https://t.co/fLoB4xsc32 pic.twitter.com/ZXH9jCgXYj
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 4, 2019
“I’m really pleased with the condition the boys are in and I’ve been really pleased with the performances as well. I’ve got nothing but positive things to say about the attitude of the players and the backroom staff. Everyone involved in this trip has worked very hard.
“I think the conditions have been good for the players. You can’t prepare for something like that. Even last night with the boys who played 90 minutes, they had to work really, really hard towards the end with us being down to 10 men.
“The preparation we’ve done is the best we could have hoped for. In terms of fitness levels in a short space of time, I think they look good. We’ll see how they settle now once we come back to Glasgow and get some more technical work into them.
“This week’s going to be important but it will be good because they’ve had a couple of games now and are more up to speed with my side of things.
???? “I’m really pleased with the condition the boys are in and I’ve been really pleased with the performances as well.”
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 3, 2019
“There were some great performances and some great goals. I was really pleased with the control of the game from the young boys in first game. Obviously Mikey Johnston sets it all off. He’s been the catalyst for a lot of good things, whether that’s been in training or the games. For such a young team to play so well was very encouraging.
“Leigh Griffiths got his customary goal in the second game. It’s good to see him back and getting the goals. Bayo missed a couple of chances in that match before taking his hardest chance with a left foot finish. We’ll have to wait and see how he is because he felt a little twinge in his hamstring and he was looking really good as well.”
