Boyata thrives after resolving to focus on the simple things

DEDRYCK BOYATA has admitted he used to make his game more complicated than it needed to be. As a result, he also ended up tying himself in knots mentally.

If the Belgian’s first season at Celtic was an erratic mess, his second year has followed a much more deliberate, and therefore smoother, trajectory.

At Ibrox yesterday he turned in a powerful performance, arguably his best for the club, in which he was both physically imposing and calm and unflustered in possession.

He even claimed a goal in front of the jubilant away support in the Broomloan Stand to cap a fine afternoon’s work in tandem with Jozo Simunovic. Afterwards, the pair’s performance drew special praise from Brendan Rodgers.

‘We had many great performers, but I thought the two centre-halves were outstanding,’ said the Celtic manager. ‘You defend like men and you go and attack the ball and be aggressive.’

Boyata (below) was suffering from the effects of a hamstring injury when Rodgers took over last summer and the new boss’ first instruction to the 26-year-old was to get himself physically fit, then to delve inside the mind and find out what had been preventing this obviously talented defender from establishing himself.

An academy graduate at Manchester City tipped for great things at both club and international level, Boyata never broke through at the Etihad and looked jittery and rusty when he joined Celtic in 2015. With hindsight, he admits he was guilty of overplaying in an effort to match his billing.

‘The manager is pretty straightforward,’ said Boyata. ‘If you do what he asks you to do and do it well, he will give you a chance.

‘The first challenge he set me was my fitness and then it was to play simple.

‘He wants his defenders to play it nice and simple, but I was trying to make my game difficult by doing certain things.

‘I watched video clips to see what I was doing wrong, and by focusing on those difficult areas I managed to improve.’

Rodgers picked Boyata just once before the winter break in January, but promised him that if he could prove his fitness and show an inclination to play without fuss he would be given an opportunity.

That chance came on the first game back after the team’s return from a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. Boyata was selected for the Scottish Cup tie against Albion Rovers, the first of 16 starts from 18 games, with yesterday’s goal his third of the campaign.

Noticeably, he is also carrying himself with greater authority and perhaps it is no coincidence that Celtic dropped league points on both occasions he was rested — against Partick Thistle and Ross County.

‘Even when I wasn’t playing I was told why — the manager would take me into his office and tell me to be patient,’ explained Boyata.

‘You can be frustrated if you are not involved. Football is your life and you think about it all the time. It plays with your humour.

‘It wasn’t easy, but from experience I now know you can build yourself up mentally. Instead of picking the wrong way and being frustrated, I have tried to show what I can do and convince people.

‘I’ve had many games since January, but I’m still trying to get better. I am enjoying the moment right now and I would like to keep going. I’m pleased, it’s going well.’

Even throughout his hardest times, Boyata still benefited from the faith of his national team.

Had it not been for the injury that flared up in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers, he might well have made Marc Wilmots’ squad for Euro 2016.

He earned his third cap as a late substitute in Belgium’s 3-3 friendly draw against Russia in March and hopes to play in the World Cup qualifier against Estonia on June 9.

Boyata’s involvement in that squad would grant him barely a fortnight before his return for Celtic’s preparations for the Champions League qualifiers but, after so long on the sidelines, he is not inclined to complain.

‘There won’t be much break but that’s the life we choose,’ he stated. ‘If I’m asked to play for Belgium it is difficult to say no — we have the World Cup next year and I want to be involved.

‘At City in 2013, we were due to finish on the 15th of May and not return until the 7th of July, so it was almost eight weeks, which was different!

‘I’m obviously looking forward to playing in the Champions League qualification, so we need to be ready for that. If it means a shorter break, then so be it. ‘Two weeks is enough.’