NEIL LENNON has spoken about a change in Olivier Ntcham’s demeanour in the last month or two after the player came to the club from the summer break.
There was a French interview Olivier took part in which claimed he was ready for a new challenge and couldn’t develop at Celtic anymore.
Neil Lennon spoke to the Frenchman upon his return and he’s played here and there for Celtic this season when he’s been fit.
The Celtic boss admits Ntcham might not have been up for the fight before but now he looks like a player transformed. The late goal in Lazio making the midfielder feel more part of things and giving him a boost going forward.
From what Neil Lennon is saying about the Rodgers signed player, it appears as if the interview Ntcham did over the summer wasn’t misconstrued and Oli was being serious.
“He is happy to be a part of it,” Lennon told The Scotsman. “The goal in Rome may just have changed his whole outlook on things.
“I saw a difference in him even before Rome. We had a chat about his comments earlier in the season – whether they were misconstrued, there may have been some truth in them. But he has really settled down now and he is training very well. The way he is seeing things now, he might feel ‘why shouldn’t I stay here?’ Because things are going well.
“We’ve beaten Lazio away from home and he played a huge part in that. Maybe that makes him think the grass isn’t always greener and he can fulfil a lot of things at Celtic for whatever length of time he is here.”
“He has played brilliantly in the games he has played for me,” added Lennon. “He’s been unfortunate not to play more often, that’s just down to the quality of the rest.
“He is some player, really high calibre in his manipulation of the ball. We are seeing more consistency from him now, when previously he was more up and down.
“Certainly, on the ball he has fantastic technique and he works hard at that. Going the other way defensively, he is improving that aspect as well.”
Oli is set to start tonight for the bhoys with Rennes coming to town. A win for Celtic would see them take top spot in the group.
