I LOOKED INTO LENNY’S EYES, SAW DESIRE & KNEW CELTS WERE FOR ME
Boli out to help gaffer lead Celts to Euro riches
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo has bitter sweet memories of the Champions League.
As a kid at Club Brugge, still rough around the edges, he was on the receiving end of a 7-1 aggregate drubbing by Manchester United in the final qualifier.
The Belgian champs made it to the groups the following year only to lose every game against Porto, Copenhagen and Leicester City.
But Celtic’s newest recruit is desperate to get back to the peak of the European game.
And that starts with Tuesday’s showdown in Bosnia against FK Sarajevo.
Bolingoli- Mbombo said: “I have mixed feelings about playing in the Champions League. There were bad feelings because Brugge finished up with zero points and didn’t win a group game.
“But there were good feelings as well because it is always a victory for every player to play in the Champions League.
“It is amazing to have had that experience in my career, to play in that tournament.
“Everybody loves the Champions League and I can’t wait to get that second chance with Celtic.
“Hopefully, we can do something great. I was very young and I learned a lot while at Brugge.
“You get more experience every day that helps you grow as a player and a person.
“When I played in the Champions League I didn’t have so many minutes of first-team football.
“At that moment it wasn’t easy to play.
“There were a lot of good players at the club. I was young and needed to wait until my moment came. But now I have become a man.
“My moment is here and hopeful ly I can play in the Champions League.
“I played against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a qualifier and that was a great experience for me.
“To be a young footballer playing at that stadium was just amazing.
“I also played in the home leg. That was a nice experience.”
The arrival of lef t- back Bol ingoli- Mbombo, in a £ 3.5million deal from Rapid Vienna, raised questions over the future of Hoops icon Kieran Tierney who is wanted by Arsenal and Napoli.
Rumours of Tierney turning
up at Heathrow Airport on the same day as his possible replacement’s unveiling did precious little to settle the nerves of anxious fans.
Perhaps they should put their trepidation on hold and celebrate the Belgian’s arrival.
He’s exactly what they need. Only 24 years old, BolingoliMbombo has a wealth of European experience.
Before featuring in the Champions League, Brugge took on Besiktas in the Europa League last 16.
Aged 19, he scored twice in the last 10 minutes against the Turkish giants to fire his side into the quarter-finals.
At Rapid Vienna last season he even took on Rangers in Europe – and nearly came to blows with Alfredo Morelos.
Crossing swords again with Steven Gerrard’s Gers is something he’s relishing.
And Bol ingoli- Mbombo insists that even the AustriaRapid Vienna derby wi l l pale in comparison to an Old Firm showdown.
He’s also sampled the Brugge derby between Club and Cercle but Scot t i sh footba l l ’ s showpiece would top the lot.
He said: “This is a new challenge and I’m happy that I have haven’t changed my colours – because Rapid also play in a green- and- white strip. In every country the derby games are different.
“I have played in some big matches with Rapid Vienna against Austria Vienna.
“They can be pretty crazy but I think that, over here, they are even crazier.
“The Celtic games against Rangers are famous.
“Rangers are always going to do everything they can to win the game against Celtic but it will be the same for us.
“I have played against Rangers before and I think the Scottish league will be a tough league, not easy at all.
“It will take time to adapt to Scottish football but once I do that I ’m confident that I can show my qualities.”
One of the key factors that drew Bolingoli-Mbombo to Parkhead was gaffer Neil Lennon.
He revealed it was Lennon’s desire to land the attacking full-back when they met that made his mind up.
If he needed any more convincing, videos of a raucous Celtic Park against the cream of Europe sealed the deal.
Bolingoli-Mbombo said: “It is
important to feel from the manager or the coach if he is really interested.
“That was a big thing – to know the manager as well as the club wanted me.
“Of course, I was more interested in the club than the manager. If Celtic comes in for you then you can’t say no. “Celtic are a famous club so I have seen some highlights.
“It was nice to see how crazy the supporters were and how they won games. I also saw them play against Barcelona and PSG in the Champions League. “There w a s a g r e a t atmosphere in the stadium. I can’t wait to play at Celtic Park and feel the fans behind me.
“That can only motivate you to give them something back.”
That shou ld excite Hoops fans – as Boli reckons he is better than his cousins – Man United forward Romelu Lukaku and Lazio defender Jordan Lukaku. The new recruit said: “They are a stronger and more physical but I think, technically, I am the best in the family and faster than them too.”
I was young and needed to wait until my moment came – now I’ve become a man ...