How Brendan steadied the ship after Celtic’s turbulent summer

BRENDAN RODGERS aimed a few words of criticism towards French midfielder Olivier Ntcham yesterday for a few misplaced passes early on the game. The Celtic Star thought that the former Manchester City man was our man of the match against Hamilton yesterday – just shows what we know!

You get the sense that the Celtic manager is just as big a fan of Ntcham as we are. He recently convinced the player to forget all about his pal Moussa Dembele’s departure for Lyon, and the interest from Porto in signing him in the summer and focus on developing as a player at Celtic. Then the rest will follow.

Ntcham listened and subsequently signed a new four year contract that will reward him even more financially as Brendan Rodgers turns him into a player ready to grace the highest levels of the game. For the next few years though he will be at Celtic and that’s quite awesome really!

“That’s the model — you bring a boy like that in and you know there’s lots of development in them,” Brendan said to the media.

“They come in at 19 or 20 and you know there’s value in the player.

“When I looked at him you see the physical qualities he has and if you can develop those and make him more mentally robust as a player, you know at some stage he’ll move on.

“There was interest in him but we gave it short shrift, absolutely,” Brendan admitted, referring to the Porto bid in the summer.

“He’s loved his time here, he’s improved a lot and he’s getting valuable games in his legs.

“You’re always a wee bit worried that when someone like Moussa Dembele leaves, Ntcham — who is close to him — might think about leaving too.

“Moussa was someone I spoke to during the process of bringing Oli here because he was able to tell him everything that was happening at Celtic.

“So when he lost his mate, there might have been an initial bit of flatness, which is natural.

“But it’s football and we re-assured him that it’s his career. We’re here to develop and improve him.”

Celtic have protected their asset with the new contract for Ntcham and the plan will be to develop him and when the time is right cash in and attempt to repeat the process, as Brendan explained.

“We told him that at some point he will probably go as well, but it’s important that he becomes the best player he can be.

“Oli still felt there was improvements to make and it’s great that we have tied him down.

“Every individual player is different. They all have different aspirations of their own in their minds regarding their career.

“They love it here but some are on a journey. Some will want to go abroad – they don’t all want to play in the Premier League.”

Also on The Celtic Star today…

‘Celtic v Airdrie in the Scottish Cup, here’s the history,’ David Potter…See HERE.

Celtic Fans TV: ‘Midfield 3 for Trondheim, plastic pitch ban and predictions for Rosenborg…See HERE.

Jim Craig – Tam Gemmell and Willie Wallace scored to give Celtic the points…See HERE.

‘Job done! There is little I would change for the trip to Norway,’ David Potter at New Douglas Park…See HERE.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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