PARENTAL GUIDANCE
It is important for me that my dad is here. We talk about everything. People can say to you that you have played well when you haven’t. But my dad can’t lie, he tells me the truth every time
EARLIER this week, a former mainstay of the Belgian national side described Jason Denayer as a ‘diamond’ of a defender destined to represent a club as regal as Real Madrid.
The effusive praise from Lorenzo Staelens — who played for his country in three World Cups — underlined the mount in g expectation surrounding t he 19-year-old as he continues a hugely successful season on loan at Celtic from Manchester City.
There are, of course, certain dangers that come with lauding those in the first flush of their careers. Football isn’t short on youngsters who believed their own hype, whose egos became sufficiently inflated to lift their feet off the ground. The consequences are rarely positive.
Yet there seems precious little chance of that happening with the Parkhead-based prodigy. Certainly not while his father is by his side.
Andre Denayer lives with his son in Glasgow, combining the roles of loving guardian and sternest critic in one parental package.
No day- dreaming talk of the Bernabeu would be tolerated around the dinner table
‘I think my dad is happy for me,’ said Denayer, nominated this week for PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
‘But it is also important for me that he is here. He is always supporting me and we talk to each other about everything. He says some good stuff, but also is straight with me when I play bad.
‘Lots of people can say to you that you have played well when you haven’t. But my dad can’t lie to me, he tells me the truth every time.’
‘He is always honest with me,’ added the centre-half, beginning to laugh. ‘He tells me when I haven’t played well — even though I might think I have!
‘I am happy for my dad to be straight with me. He has followed me since I was young, he is the person who knows me the best. He knows what I can do.
‘When I am bad he gives me a long speech. When I am good it is quite short.’
That no-nonsense guidance has served Denayer well. He won his first senior medal last month when Dundee United were defeated in the League Cup Final, but the glint of silverware wasn’t a cue for a family celebration.
‘My dad wasn’t too emotional after we won the trophy,’ recalled Denayer. ‘He just said: “Well done, now you need to focus on the next game”.’
Keeping a clear mind and taking one step at a time is the Denayer mantra. What, though, of those words from Staelens, who also drew a positive comparison with a youthful Vincent Kompany?
‘It is just someone talking. I don’t really think about it, I do what I can. But I hope what he says is true!’ grinned Denayer.
Starring in Scotland has certainly seen Denayer’s stock rise in his homeland. So consistent have his performances been for Ronny Deila’s side that Belgium manager Marc Wilmots promptly promoted him to his senior squad.
A first cap duly followed last month, when Denayer stepped into the breach left by Kompany’s red card to help secure a 1-0 win over Israel in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
‘It has been a great season for me and more than I expected,’ he admitted.
‘To come here and play every game has been a lot for me and to win a trophy has been even more.
‘It has been the best year of my life because I’ve made my first professional start at club level, but also for the national team.
‘I do think I have changed as a player, I have improved a lot since I joined Celtic. I have so much more experience now.
‘ On a personal level, there is more pressure on me — more expectation. But that has made me more mature.’
What happens after this season remains unclear. Celtic would love to have him back for a second year on loan, but Manchester City will assess his progress before deciding whether or not to farm him out again.
Former Celtic captain Tom Boyd had stated he feels Denayer is ready to push for a first-team role at the Etihad, but the teenager would have no problem if a return to Glasgow was deemed the best option.
‘Of course, I would be happy to do that,’ he said. ‘I’ve had a very good year here so far. I would be happy to come back.
‘ I will need to wait until the summer to see what is happening. I prefer j ust to f ocus on t he present.’
That means preparing f or tomorrow’s trip to Tannadice as Celtic seek to edge ever closer to a fourth successive title.
The chance of just a fourth Treble i n the club’s history was l ost amid the controversy over Josh Meekings’ hand-ball last Sunday.
It was a bitter blow for all at Parkhead, but Denayer insisted manager Deila had refocused minds, with Celtic recording a 2-1 win over Dundee in midweek.
‘It was very bad for us to lose last Sunday and miss out on the Treble,’ said Denayer. ‘But we need to keep our heads up and keep going. Everybody wanted to win the Treble. It has been a long time since the club has done it and we were close. But that’s football.
‘The manager took the group and said: “We are all disappointed, but we now need to win the league. That is the most important thing. What is gone is gone, we can do nothing about it now”.
‘We are all looking forward to the next games.’