ODSONNE EDOUARD has thanked Brendan Rodgers, Kolo Toure and his French countrymen Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham for helping his development at Celtic.
And the 20-year-old striker, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, admitted he is having “a lot of fun” at Parkhead.
Edouard was hailed by the Hoops support when he made an impact inside two minutes as a second-half substitute as he whipped in the winner in the 3-2 victory at Ibrox at the weekend.
At the end of the season, Rodgers will have the decision of spending £7million to make the powerful youngster’s stay at Parkhead permanent – or return him to the Paris giants.
Edouard said: “I’m just trying to finish the season. I do not think about what will happen next time.
“I’m having a lot of fun here at Celtic. It is an extraordinary club, with a top coach and brilliant fans.
“I want to focus solely on my football to help Celtic as best as I can until the end of the season.”
The attacker hailed the impact of the club’s French connection in Dembele, brought in from Fulham at the start of last season, and Ntcham, bought for £4.5million from Manchester City in the summer.
Edouard added: “You know, when you choose to do this job, you’ve been prepared since you were a kid. We know that we can leave our country very quickly.
“I was not afraid. From my first day, I had the chance to find Moussa Dembélé and Olivier Ntcham, they are used to the British football and they directed me.
“It helps to have French-speaking people at my side. I am thinking, in particular, of Kolo Touré who plays the role of big brother with us all. He is present, he talks to me a lot and encourages me.”
The forward also believes he made the perfect decision by joining the Scottish champions on a season-long loan from the Ligue 1 big-spenders.
He added: “I made the choice to go for maximum playing time. When I knew that Brendan Rodgers wanted me, it did not make a crease in my mind.
“I already knew (of) him, I knew that he had coached Luis Suarez in Liverpool.
“It’s a pleasure because I play in a team that has the ball more than the opponent in general.
“With Rodgers, I feel that I am progressing at all levels and especially athletically.
“I have scored eight goals in 23 appearances, I know it’s a good ratio, but I must continue in that direction.”
Read more from Celtic Quick News …
- ‘SINCLAIR WILL ROAR BACK,’ EX-TEAM MATE
- DEMBELE’S FRENCH MISS
- ‘JOZO’S ACTIONS STUPID,’ HOOPS LEGEND
- THOMSON FOR CELTS
- ‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR CARSON,’ BOSS
- ‘BRENDAN IS NOT A GENIUS – HE’S JUST A VERY LUCKY BHOY’
- ‘SCOTT CAN PLAY IN ANY GAME FOR CELTIC,’ INSISTS RODGERS
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