Dedryck’s dedication has fired him from stable hand to Hoops marshall

While out of the team and seemingly out of the picture at Parkhead at the beginning of the season, the big defender famously knuckled down to a punishing fitness regime, including a 1am workout at Lennoxtown, to force his way back into his manager’s plans.

Since doing just that around the turn of the year, he hasn’t looked back, and again took his place at the heart of the Celtic defence alongside Jozo Simunovic as the Hoops secured the Scottish Cup in Saturday’s gripping final.

His dedication and his willillingness to invest in his own wn improvement as a player were ere undoubtedly major factors ors behind working his way into nto his manager’s favour, even if Rodgers didn’t quite believe his tale of training into the wee ee small hours at first.

“I came into the training ng ground at 11pm, but onlynly because I live 10 minutes es away,” Boyata said. “I had daa late session and I was there re until one. It’s unbelievable, but it’s true!

“We played a game at threeee and I was on the bench and nd didn’t play, so I came home me about seven, had food, and nd then I went to the training ng ground.

“I had to do it because I wasn’t fit enough, and whenen you don’t play you need to getet your fitness. I had a day off the he day after as well, so I took thehe chance. I just wanted to workk hard for the manager.

“The members of staff ff didn’t know, they only found d out when I had an interview w and I told them.

“But I’ve been working g very hard and trying to do o what the manager has been asking me to, and it has been great.

“At the training ground, , there is always a guy there 244 hours a day doing security. It t wasn’t the first time, so evenn though this was late, he knew I liked to do it.

“You just come in, ring the bell, and he turns the light on for you until you’re re finished.

“Even when I told the story, the backroom staff went and found the security guy to see if I was telling the truth! They write everything down so there you go.”

Boyata, even more than most, can look back on what he and his team have achieved this season with a genuine sense of pride. After the final whistle blew on their remark- able campaign on Saturday evening, he knew it had all been worth it.

“It feels great to have done this, it wasn’t an easy game,” he said. “When I joined this great team, we tried to win everything that was possible. The games are always hard but to be in this position – unbeaten all season – is unbelievable.

“If someone had spoken to me sixi monthsth ago, I couldn’tld ’t have seen myself in this position. It’s a great win for myself and the team. I’ve worked so hard to be in this position and it’s a great feeling.”

PERHAPS the secret to how Brendan Rodgers has wrung every last drop possible from largely the same group of players who

“For myself, [the manager] w was very special,” he said. “I started the season with m my injury and mentally it wa was very hard, you could feel it and even in the way I was pl playing you could see I wa wasn’t right.

“I had a conversation with him and he actually helped me to bring out the best of my gam game, and I’ve been improving day after day. He has been unbelievable for me.” nbOu

Of course, given the financia cial disparity that exists bet between Celtic and their opp opponents in Scottish footbal ball, there will be those who que question the magnitude of thei their achievement in remaining unbeaten domestically this seas season.

B But there is no doubt in Boy Boyata’s mind, as someone who has been at the centre of that effort, that it has been far from a walk in the park.

“I “If people don’t think it’s a big achievement, it’s a lot hard harder than it looks,” he said. “We “We’ve worked very hard to get ours ourselves into this position.

“P “People can say it’s easy but, havi having been part of it, I can tell them that it’s very, very difficult cult. It’s a great achievement for e every player.”

ButBu there is little time to refle reflect at Celtic these days. As Boy Boyata has come to expect wor working under Rodgers, the sight sights are very quickly being set on th the next goal – qualification for the Champions League grou group stage for the second season in a row.

“European football is a real target for any player,” he said. “Playing in the Champions League is a dream for every young player and we’ll keep improving, day after day.

“We have all the qualities to get there and challenge any team. We know there are big teams in there but we know we can do well.” t turned d th the punterst off ff underd Ronny Deila is the way that he keeps driving improvement even from those who may seem out of the picture.

According to Boyata, even players who are not in his immediate plans are made to feel a part of things, and are given the same attention and incentive to keep working hard as anyone else in the group.