KING OF COOL
Commons says Celtic should bask in the delights of unflappable Edouard before he becomes one of Europe’s hottest properties
KRIS COMMONS, the angriest man in Celtic’s Europa League history, has identified the coolest customer at the club as the key to inspiring a deep run in the tournament this season.
The unflappable Odsonne Edouard, described as ‘shy’ and ‘laconic’ by manager Neil Lennon, comes out firing for Celtic with big-game goals.
Fresh from netting at Ibrox and scoring four times in his first two French Under-21 appearances, the £9million man returns to his homeland for the Group E opener against Rennes.
Commons rounded off his own Europa League career for Celtic with a handy helping of goals — four in five group-phase appearances in 2015/16.
Infamously, though, that campaign will be remembered for his substitution strop at Ronny Deila following his withdrawal in defeat away to Molde.
The Scottish champions finished winless and bottom of a section which also featured Ajax and Fenerbahce that season.
Commons is convinced that, providing the pivotal Edouard is available to face Rennes, Cluj and Lazio, Celtic will be good enough to advance to the knockout stages.
‘The game-changer is Edouard playing in every game,’ said Commons. ‘If he stays fit — because he’s still a young kid playing a lot of football — they’ve got a real good opportunity to progress.
‘I really rate him. He’s improving with every performance I see. He’s more of a natural goal threat now, which you saw with the France Under-21 team last week where he scored a few goals.
‘When he first came in, he would go out on the wing and drift out of games. He’s now become that focal point for Celtic’s attack. He’s a pivotal player now.’
Still only 21, Edouard is in his third season in Scotland after initially signing on loan from Paris SaintGermain as a teenager.
His first was spent finding his feet, dipping in and out to either partner or deputise for Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths or operate in support from a wide role.
Even then captain Scott Brown recognised his promise, making a prediction to Commons that is arguably on the brink of coming true.
‘I remember speaking to Scott at a time when there was a lot talk of Moussa leaving,’ recalled Commons.
‘Odsonne was still on loan from PSG then. When I asked Broony how he was getting on, he said he was going to be better than Dembele.
‘I said: “Really?”. Broony said: “Yeah — because he’s got everything”. And he has. He’s powerful, he’s a great runner, he can hold it in and link-up play, he can score with both feet.
‘It’s not arrogance, but he’s got that bit of swagger about him you need if you’re going to be a top player. We saw glimpses of him and Moussa together as a partnership before Dembele left.
‘He likes to play off other players and I’d expect him to keep striking up good relationships with people like James Forrest and Mikey Johnston.
‘When Tom Rogic gets back fit, he’ll certainly thrive on working with Edouard, in terms of one-twos, through balls and linking up play. I’d have loved to play in behind him.’
Five goals against Rangers and a Scottish Cup Final double as the Treble Treble was clinched is the scoring form inspiring the Celtic support to serenade Edouard on how much he is adored.
To what extent he is admired outside of Scotland will dictate how long Lennon can expect to retain his
services. Success in the Europa League, therefore, is a double-edged sword for Celtic.
Heroics for the French Under-21 team have already led to a link with Lyon, where his former Celtic team-mate Dembele is currently hoping to build on his first, 17-goal Ligue 1 season.
Dembele’s Champions League goals in his maiden Celtic season sent a message continent-wide, ultimately leading to him living with transfer speculation for the remainder of his Celtic career. ‘The club are in a very good financial position so there’s no reason to sell Odsonne at any point in the next year,’ noted Commons, speaking to promote his part in Kris Doolan’s testimonial.
‘But Celtic will have a job on trying to keep hold of him. His reputation is growing, not just in Scotland but at international level and across the world.
‘He’s creating a lot of noise and there will be clubs watching him on a regular basis. When Celtic have spent £9m to get him from PSG, you’d be looking at double that to get him.
‘Kieran Tierney went for £25m but paying that for Odsonne would be a snip for clubs. He ticks every single box — and he’s only going to get better.’
Group rivals Cluj, who visit Parkhead on Matchday Two, eliminated Lennon’s men from Champions League qualifying, dealing Celtic a Europa League autumn for the second year.
‘There’s certainly a different feel to it compared to the Champions League,’ said Commons. ‘When you’re in that line-up at Celtic Park and hear that Champions League music, there’s nothing like it. It’s amazing, the world’s elite club competition.
‘But it’s not that different when you get a side like Inter Milan coming to town. Or a Man United. That can generate the same atmosphere and there are top clubs in the Europa League.
‘You want to face them in the latter stages. One of my best Europa League experiences was actually sitting in the Parkhead stand, in with the fans watching the Inter Milan tie in 2015.
‘It was 3-3, Stuart Armstrong and John Guidetti scoring. The atmosphere was incredible. It was the first time I’d done that at Celtic for a European night. It was a marvellous experience.’
If that night was one of the highlights of the two-year Deila
I spoke to Scott Brown and he told me Odsonne was going to be even better than Moussa Dembele
reign, then a desperate low followed eight months later in Norway.
That’s when Commons had his meltdown in Molde, scoring in a defeat then sparking a bust-up with his manager when taken off 15 minutes from time.
‘I totally regret that night, 100 per cent,’ he recalled. ‘It was idiotic behaviour. I’ve got young children myself now and nephews.
‘For them to see their dad and uncle behaving like that, it’s not great. I was frustrated but, even then, you get paid to be a professional athlete and role model.
‘You’re an inspiration to some people. That was totally out of character for me, I’ve never done that kind of stuff in my life. I think I had too much Red Bull that night! I was completely out of order.’
Kris Doolan’s testimonial match, between Partick Thistle and Celtic Legends teams, takes place at Firhill today with a 4pm kick-off.
Jags legends include Alan Archibald, Gerry Britton, Chic Charnley, Scotland defender Stephen O’Donnell, Liam Lindsay and Kenny Arthur. The Celtic side boasts Commons, Lubo Moravcik, Jackie McNamara, Tom Boyd, Mark Wilson, Mark Burchill and Stephen McManus.
Pay at the gate, prices are £10 for adults and £5 for Under-16s.