Boyata has no intention of allowing tiredness to take its toll
AS the last man standing among Celtic’s regular centre-back options, Dedryck Boyata won’t let weariness buckle his legs. He knows there is too much at stake when Celtic step into Pittodrie this evening.
The Belgian defender missed the opening portion of the season with a knee injury but has played seven games in the space of a month since returning to fitness. He admits that intense schedule has taken a toll. Even so, Boyata is happy to keep powering on while his colleagues convalesce.
Jozo Simunovic is not expected to return until after next month’s international break following a recurrence of his hamstring issue. Erik Sviatchenko is now back in training after a knee ligament problem, but it remains to be seen how quickly he will be restored to first-team duties.
Their absences have left Boyata holding the fort. Saturday’s Betfred Cup semi-final success against Hibernian saw the 26-year-old partnered by converted midfielder Nir Bitton. Sixty-odd hours earlier in Munich, it was right-back Mikael Lustig who stepped infield.
Boyata will again be a linchpin when Celtic face an Aberdeen side unbeaten in the Premiership and tied on the same 23-point tally. Making it 61 domestic games unbeaten under Brendan Rodgers will require defensive defiance.
‘I’m feeling pretty tired, it’s definitely been a hard week, especially playing three games in seven days,’ admitted Boyata.
‘We’re fine, though, we have another game and we’ll just prepare for that again.
‘When it comes to managing myself, if the other centre-backs had been there then maybe it would have been different.
‘But the manager has 100-percent faith in me, and he would never risk me. If he felt I wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t put me on the pitch.
‘The adrenaline keeps you going in a way. When the next game is seven days away, it can seem far away.
‘When you are playing every two or three days, you are always doing something. Physically, it isn’t the best, but we are working hard to stay on top of our game and being fit for every game.
‘We went from Champions League to the semi-final and now we’re playing a team that have the same points as us, so it’s going to be tough.
‘That’s why we’re here though. We’re here to play games and we have these big challenges, and we are up for it.’
Last season, Boyata included post-midnight gym sessions as part of his routine to try and force a path into Rodgers’ plans.
Twelve months on, his working hours are very different.
‘No, that’s impossible just now,’ he smiled. ‘It’s definitely a big contrast, it’s not the same for me.
‘I’m playing every game and I’m still coming back from injury, so that means I still have a lot of work to do on the fitness side and it’s difficult to find the time to do the right rehab for the injury I had.
‘I was going to the gym before because I wasn’t playing. Today I’m playing, so I’m very happy to be in this position.
‘I’m training every day, but don’t get me wrong, if I feel it’s not possible I just have to say.
‘We’re working with good physios and sports scientists. They look at the results and, if something seems wrong, they will put us on the sidelines.’
Boyata (below) recognises that he has an additional leadership role for as long as he remains the sole central defensive specialist available to Rodgers.
‘I’ve always been a defender who likes to take responsibility,’ he added. ‘I talk a lot on the pitch and try to help my team-mates and the people around me. In this position we’re in at the moment we are missing two of our experienced centre-backs and I’m the only one left, but Nir is doing well when he’s in and Mikael is doing well, too.
‘We’re helping each other. It’s not easy, but at the moment we are doing fine.’
Boyata feared that might change on Saturday. Despite appearing to win the ball, he was adjudged to have fouled Hibs substitute Martin Boyle to concede a penalty that Anthony Stokes converted. Assistant referee Frank Connor, who made the call, later sought out the former Manchester City man to offer an apology. ‘He came and saw me in the changing room after the game,’ said Boyata. ‘I wasn’t expecting that. I took it very well. ‘He didn’t have to do that. The officials can make a mistake but they don’t have to come and apologise to the players because, to be honest, after our third goal I didn’t go celebrate with my team-mates. I just pointed my finger in front of his face, which I wasn’t supposed to do! ‘I was the last one in the changing room and he came and knocked the door. I really appreciated it. ‘Have I ever experienced anything like that before? No. And I have done some bad stuff!’ Motherwell will face Celtic in next month’s Betfred Cup final after a semi-final victory over Rangers that sparked debate about the physical approach of the Fir Park side. Rodgers claimed referee Steven McLean lacked ‘authority’ and sympathised with Pedro Caixinha’s anger over the aerial challenge from Ryan Bowman that left Fabio Cardoso with a broken nose. ‘We are up to playing against any kind of team,’ insisted Boyata, looking ahead to the November 26 Hampden meeting. ‘Yes, they were very physical but I wasn’t really shocked because we know how the teams play. There are very physical teams and very athletic teams. ‘As I said, we can cope with any type of teams.’ l Celtic’s official autobiography of Brendan Rodgers The Road to Paradise will be on general release this Saturday. At Rodgers’ request, Celtic have made a donation to the Northern Ireland Hospice and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland and a further donation will be made by the club to each charity for every copy of the book sold.
The adrenaline keeps you going in a way