Home help has given me so much confidence

SAYS OLIVIER NTCHAM

ALITTLE help from home has enabled Olivier Ntcham to feel at one with the demands of life in Glasgow.

As he aims to cap his debut season at Celtic with a third medal, the French midfielder revealed he has been working overtime with a former youth coach.

Reda Bekhti schooled Ntcham during his formative days with Paris FC and has now become a regular visitor to Scotland, putting on individual sessions and passing on advice.

The 22-year-old credits that influence with aiding his adaptation to the Parkhead club’s hectic fixture list.

Ntcham had been far from a consistent starter during a previous two-year loan period at Genoa, so Brendan Rodgers recognised it would take time for his body to cope with the intense slog that forms much of Celtic’s campaign.

With Ntcham now a regular and impressive pick for key matches, the careful approach of those early months has paid dividends.

The former Manchester City youngster was keen, however, to do all he could to accelerate the process. Hence the call to his homeland.

‘I am training more because I have a second coach from Paris called Reda Bekhti, who comes over to help me and that has helped me to adapt to the Scottish game,’ explained Ntcham.

‘In Italy, I was only playing one game a week but here we were playing three games.

‘It was a big change for me and the club were supportive of me bringing him in. He comes over to Glasgow two or three times a month to work with me.

‘He works with me on my position and my use of the ball in games as well as my game understanding.

‘I have known him since I was only 13 as he was my coach back in Paris, so I trust him to be able to help me.

‘We have kept in touch over the years and he is always there to help me. He gives me a lot of confidence. He watches all my matches and he tries to pass on advice. He can see what aspects of my game I have to improve on.’

Rodgers obviously remains the primary influence. Ntcham took on board the message that patience would be needed after he completed a £4million summer move from City.

‘He said that to me, you are not going to play every game this season because you have to be careful with yourself,’ recalled Ntcham.

‘If I had played every game and got injured that would have been bad for me. Was it a difficult time for me? Yes and no. Because I understood it was for my good.

‘I have enjoyed my time a lot here, because we have already won trophies this season and I have played a lot of games.

‘So there has been lots of enjoyment. I am happy to play so many games. Last season I think it was only 23 games in three years for me. It is new for me but I am happy.

‘Before, I had been everywhere — Italy, France, England. Here is like England, just about the commitment, the way you play. Everyone can understand whether or not you are a lazy player.’ Ntcham has answered that question over the course of 39 starts and five substitute appearances.

Since the turn of the year, he has been a go-to man for Rodgers in Old Firm games or other high-profile clashes.

His place in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup final against Motherwell would seem assured. ‘It is very nice for me, he shows me the confidence,’ said Ntcham of Rodgers’ faith. ‘And on the pitch I need to give him the right response back. ‘I am a lot different as a player from when I came here at first. I was fit but not like today. ‘At the beginning of the season I couldn’t play three games in a row. It was maybe two, rest one, another two again. ‘It is true you can never get to the top until you can do that run of games. If you want to perform you have to play a lot of games and you have to know your own body.’ Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard complete a French contingent at Celtic, with the latter expressing a wish to stay following the end of his loan spell from Paris Saint-Germain. Negotiations are ongoing, but Ntcham (left) believes it would be the perfect move. ‘I hope Odsonne comes back to the club next season,’ he added. ‘It was a good choice by him to come to the club and play some games for a club like this. ‘He played well and I think he can see the way myself and Moussa (Dembele) have improved shows why he should come back. He has said he would like to come back but it isn’t up to us, it will be up to the club.’