SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
Boyata wants cup triumph after watching last three finals from sidelines
DEDRYCK BOYATA knows how it feels to celebrate a cup win after three post-final parties.
But the problem for the Belgian is he didn’t play a single minute in any of the victories.
Now the Celtic defender wants to earn the right to savour showpiece success at Hampden on Saturday.
Boyata is desperate to follow on from last week’s title win by completing a clean sweep with a Scottish Cup victory over Aberdeen.
The 26-year-old was a spectator at the National Stadium when Brendan Rodgers’s men lifted the League Cup with a win over the Dons.
Boyata made his first appearance of the season in a league win at Kilmarnock the previous week but sat out that day.
He made his breakthrough into the top team a couple of months later and has since been an integral part of the Hoops side.
But Boyata knows all about missing out on finals after twice being forced to watch from the sidelines for Manchester City at Wembley,
He was left kicking his heels on the bench for 90 minutes when Roberto Mancini’s men lifted the 2011 FA Cup with a win over Stoke.
Then three years later he was dropped by Manuel Pellegrini despite playing every round up until the Carling Cup Final win over Sunderland.
But he hopes to start this time round. And Boyata might even allow himself a rare drop of bubbly if he plays his part in a Celtic victory to complete a first treble in 16 years.
The centre-half said: “I watched our League Cup final from the stand. I barely played a game before that game in November and then I picked up a hamstring injury.
“It is hard. As a player you want to participate in every big moment.
“You want to be a part of it, say you’ve been on the pitch or come on. If you manage to get a few games and get to the Final and don’t play then you can still say you took part.
“It’s difficult not playing a minute but a team is not just 11 players, it’s 23 or 24.
“At Manchester City I was on the bench for the FA Cup Final with City against Stoke. I didn’t get on.
“I played all the games in the Carling Cup then was in the stand for the Final three years ago. It was disappointing.
“I’ve never actually played in the starting 11 so of course it would be good to play in a final.
“It’s a great achievement but it’s going to be nothing if we don’t win.
“I don’t drink that much. If I have a drink it has to be an exceptional moment for myself. If we win it would be an exceptional moment.”
Boyata’s role from spectator to the heart of defence has been one of the success stories of an incredible season for Celtic.
He had to fight back from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of Belgium’s Euro 2016 squad last summer.
And he was given a chance after the winter break in the Scottish Cup win at Albion Rovers and never looked back.
Of his time out the team Boyata said: “It was a difficult moment for myself and for the people around me too.
“Being in this position today feels good and something I’ve learned is you need to enjoy the moment.
“I’ve come from far. I don’t really want to think about it because there were some negative moments.
“I’m not pointing at anyone, I did the injury myself then I came back and did it again. Mentally it’s hard but today things have changed and you can only go forwards.
“You learn from this moment. Mentally you get stronger and now I feel good here at Celtic.”