Dembele won’t gamble on his fitness
Dembele unwilling to gamble on his fitness
MOUSSA Dembele last night warned he won’t gamble on his fitness to play in the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic’s top scorer is engaged in a race against time to face Aberdeen at Hampden on May 27 after a hamstring injury in the semi-final win over Rangers.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has wrapped the France Under-21 international in cotton wool after refusing to rule out a shock return for the final.
With one eye on Champions League qualifiers in mid-July, however, the 20-year-old claims he won’t take any risks with his fitness.
‘There’s a chance I could play in the final, maybe, but also maybe not,’ said Dembele. ‘It’s three weeks until the final, so there’s still time — but I will listen to the physios. With an injury like this, you need to take care.
‘I will need to be 100 per cent fit if I am to play, especially with a muscle injury. Otherwise, I will just get injured again, so I will just take my time.
‘If I am not fit in time for the final, then I will come back stronger for the Champions League qualifying games.’
Dembele could make it an awards double after landing nominations in the PFA Scotland Player and Young Player of the Year categories.
Valued at £30million by Celtic, reports in France claim Champions League semi-finalists Juventus are the latest top club to place the striker on their list of summer targets.
Heavily linked with English Premier League champions-elect Chelsea, Dembele maintains he is in no rush to leave Glasgow and said: ‘I have never said that I am going to leave this club.
‘I have said nothing about transfers and I don’t want to speak about it. This season has not finished yet and, for me, I just want to focus on my fitness and come back stronger. I can’t tell you what the future will be.
‘The next step in my career will be to get back on the pitch and, after that, we will see what will happen.
‘I don’t listen to what people are saying in the media. I just focus on my football.
‘I have people around me who take care of that, so I just have to focus on my football 100 per cent when I go on the pitch.
‘Celtic have made me improve. But it is not a case of what have Celtic done for me. It is a case of what we have done together.
‘I work hard and I make sure I give 100 per cent every day. It is down to both of us.
‘I have got a four-year contract. I have never said I am going to leave this club. Until this day, there are no transfer rumours or speaking about my future, or speculation. I just focus on Celtic.’
Joining Celtic last summer in a bargain £500,000 deal, Dembele expressed an ambition to become one of the best strikers in the world.
Already targeting a place in the France World Cup squad for Russia next summer, the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect believes his career plan is firmly on track.
‘As I told you when I first came, I want to be one of the best strikers in the world and the road is still far for me to go, but I feel like I am getting there,’ he said.
‘There are many more challenges here. We have the Champions League coming up and we will want to defend our title next season.
‘It will come when it comes. I don’t set myself an age and keep working. I hope it will come soon, but, if not, I just keep working harder.
‘I am good here. I have to make sure that, next season, I am in good form and I do my best. The national team will come when they come. I am relaxed just now.’
“I will listen to the physios — I need to take care of myself”