Jeremie Frimpong

JEREMIE Frimpong described his Celtic debut as a dream come true and said his ambitions to make it to the top are motivated by the desire to prove people wrong.

Neil Lennon handed the 18-year-old full-back his Hoops debut in Wednesday night’s 5-0 win against Partick Thistle in the League Cup quarter-final.

Frimpong signed a four-year deal with Celtic, moving from Manchester City, and he has quickly worked his way into the manager’s plans despite his youth. That didn’t hold him back in last night’s game and the teenager impressed with a Man of the Match performance as Neil Lennon's side booked their place inthe semi-final of the League Cup, where they will face Hibernian.

Speaking after the game, Frimpong was ecstatic to play his first game in the senior side.

“It was amazing, a dream come true,” said Frimpong. “It was my first professional game and the fans - I love them already. To hear them when I came off was amazing. I’ve been trying to make a good impression and I found out two or three days ago I was starting. I played well and now I have to keep that going.

“I’m very grateful that the manager gave me a chance. It’s a dream come true to play for Celtic. It’s the biggest club in Scotland so it’s amazing. My goal was to play for the first-team. I thought I was ready and I proved to the manager I was ready. He gave me a chance and hopefully I can do more."

The Dutch defender’s appearance in the starting line-up was not only his debut for Celtic but his competitive debut in senior football. And Frimpong said he was determined to build on his debut and show that he is capable of playing at the top.

“There’s a big difference and you have to adapt to it, but it’s been really good,” he said. “I play football because I want to be the best right-back and I’m going to prove that.

“You have to play with confidence if you want to be a footballer. If you want to be the best you have to play with confidence. Obviously don’t be cocky but just go out there and play your game. You can’t be nervous in front of these fans. They want you to show what you can do for the team and hopefully I can do that.

“I’ve been working hard in training and I play football to prove people wrong and show them what I’ve got. That’s what I’ve been doing and I’m going to keep doing that.”

 

Love his confidence.

 

Brilliant

 

Love the boy already such a good attitude.

 

A very happy young man. Great to see.

 

What a likeable young guy! Happy for him.

 

Looks like he's really enjoying life here, hope we see more of him (and some of the other youngsters) as the season goes on.

 

Isn't he Dutch? How long was he at Manchester City for?

 

A lot of Celtic fans were getting hysterical over the need to sign a RB only a few weeks ago to the point where apparently it was Neil Lennons fault lol. We now have Hatem Abd Elhamed, Moritz Bauer and Jeremie Frimpong all fighting over the position, changed days.

 

We've went from Lustig, Gamboa and Toljan to Elhamed, Bauer and Frimpong, what a difference.

 

Really like the look and attitude of this lad! I think we’ve got an absolute bargain signing him.

Looking forward to seeing more of him.

 

Aye but Lenny was lying about Elhamed being a right back, so does he even count?

 

Impressive debut. Hope he gets a few games this season.

 

Guys gonna be class for us

 

UPON meeting Jeremie Frimpong, it is hard to believe that the Celticyoungster has ever suffered from a moment of anxiety in his 18 years on this earth. He is almost as confident in the flesh as he appeared on the field when making his debut for the club in the win over Partick Thistle on Wednesday night.

But when he made the switch from Manchester City to Glasgow in the summer, coming as he was from the under-23’s changing room at the Etihad into a senior football environment, he admits he was a bag of nerves.

He needn’t have worried though, as an arm around the shoulder from captain Scott Brown made him feel immediately at ease, and made him comfortable enough to go into training, express himself, and show exactly why manager Neil Lennon brought him to the club.

Those good initial impressions he made led to his first appearance at senior level during the week, and he is hoping there is plenty more to come now he has settled into his new surroundings and adjusted to the step up in level.


“I used to play under-23 football so there’s a big difference, but you have to adapt to it,” Frimpong said. “It’s been really good.

“Everyone is good, but Scott Brown has impressed me. He’s been great. When I first came, I thought he was going to be a serious guy, but he jokes about and I really like that.

“When I came, he made sure he would speak to me, and everyone was really welcoming.

“At first I was nervous, because you’re going into a new environment, but everyone was coming up to me and speaking to me, so I liked that.”


A midweek Betfred Cup tie against Championship opposition may not have set the pulses of many Celtic fans racing, but Frimpong tried to do exactly that for the 25,000-odd in attendance with his all-action display on Wednesday evening.

He was quick, tricky, and solid defensively too in his right-back berth, and he appreciated the acclaim of the supporters as much as they appreciated his performance.

“It was amazing, a dream come true,” he said. “It was my first professional game and it was amazing.

“The fans, oh my gosh, I love them already. It was just crazy, man. When I came off I could hear them all, it was just incredible.

“The manager told me I was starting two or three days beforehand, so I was focused on making a good impression.

“I was doing everything good and then today came and I played well, so I have to keep that going.”

Confidence can only carry you so far though, and Frimpong seems to have the talent to back up his big talk.

“You have to play with confidence if you want to be a footballer,” he said. “If you want to be the best, you have to play with confidence.

“Obviously don’t be cocky, but you have to go out there and play your game. You can’t be nervous in front of these fans. They want you to show what you can do for the team, and hopefully I can do that.

“I loved the reception I got. Everyone stood up and was cheering, so I really liked that.

“I work hard in training and that’s why I play football, to prove everyone wrong and show them what I’ve got. That’s what I have been doing, and I’m going to keep doing that.

“My goal was to play first team and take another step. I thought I was ready, so I wanted to prove to the manager that I was ready.

“He gave me the chance against Thistle and hopefully I showed what I can do.

“I’m very grateful. It’s a dream come true to play for Celtic, it’s the biggest club in Scotland, so it’s just amazing. Even when I found out I was coming here I was so happy.”






His dream debut for Celtic was rounded off by being presented with the man of the match award after the game, no mean feat considering teammate Oliver Ntcham had bagged a double which included a thunderbolt of a 30-yarder into the top corner and a wonderful individual goal that he caressed into the net via the inside of a post.

“When it got announced [that I was man of the match] I thought ‘what’s going on?’” he said.

“I looked up the screen and it said Jeremie is man of the match, and [the bench] were all shouting to me ‘Jeremie, Jeremie, Jeremie’, and then they all went ‘wheeeyyyy!’

“I was like ‘oh my gosh’, and I can’t even stop smiling now.”

As much as Frimpong’s infectious enthusiasm is making him a popular figure in the Celtic changing room, and is bound to do similar with the support, he has his heart set on upsetting two of the senior members of the squad in Moritz Bauer and Hatem Abd Elhamed by nailing down the right-back position as his own.

“That’s why I play football,” he said. “I want to be the best right-back, and I’m going to prove that.”

And to be fair to Frimpong, he had some decent mentors to lean on for advice in his Manchester City days.

“I would speak to Kyle Walker and then when Joao Cancelo came I would speak to him,” he said. “They would give me some tips and stuff.

“I was there since I was young, so you want to try and get into the team, but they obviously have Kyle Walker and they have just bought a new right-back.

“I thought I was ready for first-team now, so Celtic came and I took the chance, because I thought I would have a better chance at Celtic than Man City.

“[Glasgow] is amazing. There’s no real difference, it’s like Manchester, it’s just the weather!

“I went to the city centre and it’s amazing, I’m happy to be in Glasgow.

“I knew Celtic were the best team in Scotland, so I thought ‘yes, I’m going to the best team, so when we play teams Celtic always win, so I’ll be on the winning team!’

“I hope that it carries on, and it will carry on.”

You can’t argue with his logic. Or knock his confidence.

 

Not to mention young Irishman O'Conner as well, who plays RB for his country, but fortunately can play in other positions. He may have to! I can see Elhamed playing centre half alongside Ajer if Frimpong continues to impress. Bauer may seem like unnecessary extra body in a few months time. Fingers crossed as we should always look to promote youth.