Celtic full-back Boli Bolingoli has been named in the UEFA Europa League “Dream Team” for matchday two of the competition’s group stage – but the governing body have had a shocker.
The Belgian full-back and fellow left-wing buddy Mohamed Elyounoussi both made the cut following Celtic’s 2-0 home success over CFR Cluj. However, both players were included on the right hand side of UEFA’s XI rather than the left.
Former Celtic hero Kieran Tierney also made the team – filling in at his normal left-back – while ex-Rangers flop Umar Sadiq was one of the team’s forwards after he scored a brace for Partizan Belgrade against Astana.
The positioning may be very questionable but the fact that two summer recruits – Bolingoli and Elyounoussi – both made the cut out of 48 teams tells you all you need to know about where they and Celtic are at.
UEFA honour is proof of Bolingoli rise
The change in circumstances for Bolingoli since the last Cluj match couldn’t be more stark. The 24-year-old was an unused substitute the last time the Romanian champions came to Glasgow. Neil Lennon didn’t trust him to play the match and instead put Callum McGregor at full-back. Now Bolingoli is one of our best attacking outlets.
The former Rapid Vienna man still has lots of improvement too. He can still get a little flustered at times and we saw that in the weekend draw at Hibernian. But he’s turning into a terrific signing who can defend and get up the pitch in an attacking sense.
His run and cross for Odsonne Edouard’s goal was terrific. That was the kind of play that Celtic fans were used to seeing with Tierney. If Bolingoli can keep up his current form then we may not miss the Arsenal man quite as much.
Let’s just hope UEFA can get a better handle on his position in future.
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