Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo’s position, as we all know, is at left-back first and foremost.
But the new Celtic man has stated that he can also play as a left-winger if Neil Lennon ever feels fit. It’s a position he’s played in on multiple occasions for Rapid Vienna, and he claims he can do it at Celtic too.
Boli has been talking up his move to Celtic today in the Scottish Sun. The Belgian has had a bit of a roller-coaster start to his time in Glasgow. What nobody can deny, however, is that Boli has looked a lot more settled over the last two matches.
And speaking in the Sun about where he feels most comfortable, he stated that he can play anywhere down the left flank.
“I started out as a winger so I can play there if the club needs me, but I prefer being a full-back. As long as I am playing, I don’t mind where.
“I had good times at Rapid, but when you get this opportunity you can’t turn it down. It was the right move to take that next step in my career. I wanted the move to happen, but I couldn’t think about it and I had to keep working hard.
“When Celtic made their move I said yes straight away. It is the right move for me at this time and I can’t wait to show people what I can do.”
Don’t expect Lenny to experiment much with Boli’s alternative position
It’s good to know that Boli is flexible. Given the fact he definitely looks most comfortable down the left, it’s no surprise his secondary position is as a winger.
Impressively, the Belgian has started to show his defensive attributes in recent times too. Boli did well against Nomme Kalju in Estonia whenever the odd flurry of invention came down his side. He wasn’t forced to show it much against St Johnstone, but he was certainly much tidier on the ball.
Fortunately, however, Lennon is unlikely to tinker or experiment anytime soon. He was signed to be a left-back, and that’s exactly where Celtic will want to keep him.
Considering we have alternatives at Parkhead such as Scott Sinclair, Lewis Morgan, and Daniel Arzani (whenever he’s fit), Boli shouldn’t see any game-time at left-mid. With the form Mikey Johnston is in, right enough, not many will.
You can see why Boli would be such a marauding success further up, however. Despite being a full-back, his natural instinct seems to be to attack. It’s where he thrives, and he looks most at ease during a game when he’s bombing forward with the ball.
But with a combination of a lack of left-back alternatives and too many left-mid alternatives, Celtic certainly don’t need to use Boli further up anytime soon.
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