Ntcham is ready to FLY
IN DUBAI
AT £4.5million, Olivier Ntcham is the most expensive player on Celtic’s books. Not since the transfer of Scott Brown from Hibernian in 2007 have the Celtic board sanctioned a deal as rich as that which secured the Frenchman from Manchester City.
Yet six months on from his move, the midfielder is not yet a regular starter in Brendan Rodgers’ team. The manager insists he is far from concerned.
Rodgers always viewed the 21-year-old as a long-term investment and, having sanctioned the big payment, he is now working on honing the player’s physicality.
Prior to the deal, Ntcham had two years on loan at Genoa in the tactical environment of Serie A. Rodgers feels the Scottish environment will ultimately prove a better fit for his dynamic playing style and he expects him to become more prominent in the second half of the season.
‘Olivier will definitely kick on,’ he said. ‘It’s just me managing his load and games. He is 21 years old and played 38 games in two seasons on loan at Genoa.
‘We can’t expose him to game after game without running the risk of injury, especially with his body type.
‘So he is a gradual one. At first he’d play a game then come out. We’ve now developed him to play twogames in a week.
‘Before the break he had the Aberdeen game, Dundee away and then we gave him the breather and he came into the Rangers game (as a sub).
‘When he has the games in his legs and the body to sustain it without risking injury, he will play more consecutive matches.’
There have been glimpses of Ntcham’s exciting talent in Champions League matches against Anderlecht and Paris Saint-Germain but the midfielder has equally been prone to flit in and out of games.
Rodgers is adamant he will emerge as a powerful force for Celtic.
‘When you look at his power, pace and that shooting ability, that’s why we paid for the talent,’ said Rodgers.
‘But this is Olivier’s first real episode of playing. He is not like Scott Brown, who has played 40-50 games a season for 10 years. It’s my job to manage that.’
Also in contrast to Brown is Ntcham’s reserved personality, but he has a studious aspect to which Rodgers warms.
‘He is just a good guy — quiet, relaxed but focused,’ explained the manager. ‘He loves football, football is his life and he doesn’t waste his time doing daft things.
‘He prepares himself well, trains every day and does extra work. He is coming to terms with playing for a big club with pressure and becoming accustomed to that. ‘It’s not about shouting and
screaming. It’s about having the right mentality. Olivier has that and he is a really good boy. No issues. He knows the path he is on and I’ve been really pleased with him.’
Character and personality are important to the Liverpool boss and that’s why he has savoured the past week with his players in Dubai.
This time last year, there was an intensity to the team’s training ground work in the Middle East but, with the players visibly tired after a gruelling schedule, Rodgers has switched focus to the bonding aspect of the trip.
‘When I trace our success over 19 months, there are lots of things involved in it but a big part is the spirit and the connection within the group,’ he explained.
‘That’s something that is formed. It’s about environment and that’s the beauty of this trip. We have had virtually no time to connect whatsoever this season.
‘We started (training) in June and it has been constant. No Christmas parties, nothing. It’s just been that physical and mental load.
‘You need to be able to connect on the field and off it. You can’t underestimate that.’
Joining Celtic in Dubai are Aberdeen, while Rangers, Hibs, Hearts and Motherwell have also headed to warmer climes during the recess. Others like Tommy Wright, Rodgers’ Northern Irish counterpart at St Johnstone, haven’t been so fortunate. ‘I respect not every club can do it,’ he added. ‘But if you have owners or sponsors willing to fund it, you should. ‘It’s all relative. If we get to the Champions League, this has helped. But even if we didn’t qualify there are benefits. ‘So I would have sympathy for somebody like Tommy. If a club doesn’t have finance then it’s hard to argue, but you would think they could help in some way.’ Celtic’s new defensive signing Marvin Compper is one obvious beneficiary of the bonding opportunity but Rodgers has also enjoyed watching the younger players in the group interact. ‘I like to observe,’ he said. ‘There are some young players here, so how do they cope with being away from home? How do they mix? ‘Some players can really miss their children. I try to have a group that has a good synergy. That’s part of your recruitment. Getting the right types. The right profile. ‘For me, that’s equal to ability. The talent is no good if it doesn’t work. So it’s critical. ‘I’ve got experience now, so if it’s not right I will know it. I will take a lesser talent who is coachable and hungry and bring that into my group. ‘We get linked with lots of players and there are lots who could probably play for Celtic. But they don’t have the right characteristics to do it. So they don’t come in. Simple.’
He prepares himself well, trains every day and does extra work. He doesn’t waste his time