MOUSSA DEMBELE has revealed he will still be at Celtic when they have another tilt at the Champions League.
The French Under-21 international striker has been in the transfer spotlight after his goalscoring exploits this season since arriving from Fulham in the summer.
Dembele passed up the opportunity last night to equalise as Barcelona led 1-0 through a Lionel Messi goal in the Champions League game at Parkhead.
Moments later, the little Argentinian swept a penalty-kick past Craig Gordon and sent the Hoops towards European oblivion.
The point Borussia Monchengladbach earned against Manchester City meant even the door to the Europa League was closed with one match still to play.
But the 20-year-old hitman is adamant he and his Celtic colleagues will learn from this experience and he made clear his intention to have another crack at Europe’s premier competition with the Scottish champions.
Asked about the transfer speculation, Dembele said: “That is what everyone is saying but I haven’t said that. For me, I am here until the end of my contract and for many years.
“It is not something I think about. I don’t listen to those stories.
“I want to keep playing in the Champions League and keep playing in the Champions League for Celtic first. Because I think I will stay here 100 per cent. I want to keep improving and keep developing as a player.
“Coming to Celtic and playing in the Champions League hasn’t just been good for me, it’s been good for the whole squad.
“We have a lot of young players and we have picked up a lot of experience against the best teams in the world.
“Hopefully, we can come back even stronger next season.”
Dembele was also frank in his assessment of the opportunity he passed up that would have thrown the Hoops a lifeline.
He added: “I had a chance and didn’t score. There’s not a lot I can say about it. I tried to put the ball back across the keeper, but he saved it.
“I tried to generate power on the cross and it didn’t work.
‘That’s the way it is. Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score. You just have to hold your head up and focus on the next challenge.”
