The Only Way Is Ethics

Olivier Ntcham’s application and drive for first-team football has paid dividends for him and the Celts

- Tony Connelly

DEVELOPING players, particularly young ones, has long been a central pillar to Brendan Rodgers’ managerial philosophy. Work ethic and focus are pivotal in helping to facilitate evolution, but some hopefuls lack those attributes and subsequently never realise their true potential.

Olivier Ntcham has shown a clarity and maturity in recognising this pitfall, which is why the young midfielder continues to improve exponentially for Celtic.

Modern football is underpinned by a prevalent dichotomy. Never have the rewards been so high, but the path has become increasingly perilous. Countless young players have come up short in reaching the potential heaped upon them, be that because of injury or, as is so often the case, distractions that come with the money and attention they receive.

Brendan Rodgers has spoken of these hazards in the past, citing one common denominator which so frequently distracted players from developing and improving as they should - money.

There are astronomical variances in the sums thrown around in the modern game but the majority of footballers in their early 20s earn far more than their non-footballing peers and are scrutinised for their every action and utterance on social media.

An effective counterbalance to this so-called ‘poisoned chalice’ is discipline and hard work and Olivier Ntcham has that in abundance. High expectations were placed on the then 21-year-old French midfielder when he arrived from Manchester City last summer with the task of breaking into a treble-winning Invincibles side.

One year on, he has established himself as an integral part of the Hoops midfield. Fans have only gained a glimpse of that journey, though, as the majority of it has taken place at Lennoxtown each day where he has tirelessly worked to gain a footing in the team.