MOUSSA: EU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET
MOUSSA DEMBELE reckons the 10 months Celtic’s young guns have spent growing and gelling into a domestic destruction unit can make them even more dangerous in next season’s Champions League.
The French kid and his colleagues have ruled the roost in Scotland this term but also made a favourable impression in Europe.
Dembele savoured his initial experience of the big time. But the 20-year-old admits he and his team were raw and will be better for the baptism next time.
He said: “We will be better prepared. We have played a whole season together and have done great. Next season will be better, although I can’t say it will be easier.
“One thing’s for sure, we have improved this season and are now a better team.
“It was everything I hoped it would be. When you are young you watch the Champions League and want to play in it. When you do it, especially at my age, it is like a dream.
“To come up against great players was a great learning season for us. It was great experience and it was good to compare ourselves to the top clubs.
“We have seen what we have to do to get there and we will work hard to do better next season.
“The manager knows what he has to do to make the team better.”
If he can make Dembele better he’ll be on to a real winner. He has hit the net 32 times and one of his strikes was voted Goal of the Season by PFA Scotland.
The former Fulham striker put the seal on a move against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in February which included a touch for every member of the team before being put in the net.
But Dembele said: “I would have picked all of them for goal of the season. I think every goal has a story.
“I’m a striker and the best feeling for me is to score.
“When I’m in the box I will do everything to put the ball in the back of the net – right foot, left foot, header, shoulder, knee, whatever.
“Everyone has seen what I’m capable of this season and hopefully next season I will be even better.
“I have learned a lot this season and I will keep learning until I finish playing.”