{"remix_data":[],"remix_entry_point":"challenges","source_tags":[],"origin":"unknown","total_draw_time":0,"total_draw_actions":0,"layers_used":0,"brushes_used":0,"photos_added":0,"total_editor_actions":{},"tools_used":{},"is_sticker":false,"edited_since_last_sticker_save":false,"containsFTESticker":false}
“I’m really disappointed leaving Celtic, it’s hard to bear the pain here it’ll would have meant a lot to me to come back to Glasgow and play at Celtic Park again”- A former Celtic player, unable to bear the pain any longer after falling out of favor at his current club and being excluded from the first team, has expressed a desire to return.
Dedryck Boyata Reflects on Celtic Days Ahead of Champions League Clash
For Dedryck Boyata, Celtic Park holds a special place in his heart. It’s where he won his first silverware, where he was happiest in his career, and where he truly grew both as a player and as a person.
That’s why the 33-year-old defender is deeply disappointed not to be returning to Glasgow this Wednesday for a Champions League match. Boyata, who now plays for Club Brugge, had hoped to make an emotional return to the city where he spent four years with Celtic, winning four Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups, and two League Cups. However, after falling out of favor at Brugge and being left out of their Champions League squad, Boyata will miss out on the chance to play at Celtic Park when the Belgian side faces Celtic in the competition.
Boyata, who was a key member of Brendan Rodgers’ historic Invincibles team of 2017, says his time at Celtic is the period he cherishes most in his career. He was especially disappointed when he found out that the Champions League draw had paired Brugge with both Celtic and his former club, Manchester City — the two places where he made his mark. Though philosophical about his situation, Boyata is expected to leave Brugge in January, but the reality of missing out on a return to Celtic Park is a tough blow.
In an exclusive interview with MailSport, Boyata shared his feelings: “I’m really disappointed not to be coming back to Celtic Park,” he said. “But my situation here was decided before the Champions League squads were announced. It was especially hard when I found out Brugge would be playing Celtic away. We also drew Manchester City, so it’s the two clubs where I made my name.”
He continued, “It would have meant a lot to me to come back to Glasgow and play at Celtic Park again. I spent four incredible years there, and it’s where I became a proper professional player. Celtic is the club that made me a man, and personally, my wife and I had some wonderful times there.”
Boyata still considers his time at Celtic the best and happiest of his career. “It was by far the best period of my career,” he reflected. “At City, I was young and not playing regularly, but at Celtic, I had the chance to play every week, and the challenge of winning trophies was new to me. You don’t realize it at the time, but you never know how many times you’ll get that in your career. I always tell players winning cups to enjoy it because you don’t know when it will happen again. I probably had the best time of my life at Celtic.”
Despite his departure, Boyata still follows Celtic’s progress and has been impressed with their form in the Champions League. Ahead of Brugge’s visit, he feels the need to warn his teammates about the atmosphere they can expect at Celtic Park — though he knows it’s hard to truly convey the experience.
“It’s going to be a tough game for Brugge,” Boyata said. “It will be interesting for them because it will be their first time playing at Celtic Park. The first 10 minutes will be intimidating. I can tell them what it’s like, but until you’ve been there, it’s hard to explain. Even as a Celtic player, the atmosphere gets to you every time. You can feel the intensity, and even if you’ve experienced it before, it still hits you.”
Boyata, who was signed by Ronny Deila in the summer of 2015, had a rocky start to his Celtic career. When Brendan Rodgers took over the following year, Boyata found himself on the periphery. Reflecting on this time, he said, “Brendan was a big influence on me. We had a good relationship, and he always provided advice on how to improve. My first year was decent under Ronny, but when Brendan arrived, I wasn’t playing. He gave me the reasons, and I worked on what I needed to improve. After that, things went well, and I became part of the Invincibles team.”
Looking back, Boyata admits he would have liked to stay longer at Celtic but understands that football is a journey full of twists and turns. “Do I wish I’d stayed a bit longer? Of course,” he said. “Everyone would love to go back and relive those moments. But it’s part of my story. I’m a player from Brussels who has lived and played in England, Scotland, Germany, and Holland. Football takes you places, and every chapter has been part of making me the person I am today.”
