Boli Bolingoli “doesn’t worry” about criticism

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Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli says that he isn’t bothered about criticism, as he always knows his own qualities.

The Belgian had a rocky start to life in Glasgow after making the summer switch from Rapid Vienna. Bolingoli was inconsistent for his first few matches, to the extent where Neil Lennon dropped him for the crunch Champions League clash against Cluj.

But he’s been a virtual ever present since. In fact, Wednesday’s victory over Partick Thistle was the first match he hasn’t started since the 4-3 defeat to the Romanians.

Bolingoli should get the chance to set the record straight against Dan Petrescu’s side next week but, for now, he’s just happy to have found his place at Celtic.

“It wasn’t that easy at the beginning,” the 24-year-old told the BBC.

“For me especially. But I just kept working hard and adapting was important for me. Now you can see on the pitch as a team that we’re doing very well.

“I don’t worry about the criticism. I only focus on my football. I know my qualities so I know in myself that I needed a little bit of time but I’m happy now that I can help the team. Hopefully I can just become a better and better player.

“When you arrive at a new club you always need to try and find your place. As you see, I’m enjoying every game and it’s always amazing to play in paradise. So I definitely feel more comfortable.”

Bolingoli criticism has lessened as he has improved

You don’t get the impression Bolingoli is just saying those things for the sake of it either. The former Rapid man looks a much calmer footballer to the one who arrived. And that’s no surprise really.

It’s easy to forget that he joined the club when we had no other fit left-backs on our books. Greg Taylor hadn’t yet signed and Kieran Tierney was still at the club – but injured.

That meant that Bolingoli was thrown in at the deep end where the likes of Christopher Jullien and Hatem Abd Elhamed had a more gentle introduction to the team.

The past isn’t important when it comes to the Belgian, though. What matters is what he can produce the next time we go out on to the pitch. He’s been arguably our best attacking outlet in the past two league games. Hopefully he can make it a hat-trick at Easter Road this weekend.