Many Celtic fans were worried about left-back Boli Bolingoli heading into Celtic’s game against Rangers yesterday after a difficult start to life in Scotland. However, the Belgian passed his test at Ibrox with flying colours in the 2-0 win over their fierce rivals.
The fullback, along with fellow Old Firm derby newcomers Christopher Jullien and Hatem Abd Elhamed, all performed heroically as the Hoops kept a clean sheet and dealt the first blow in the title race.
Supporters on Twitter were very happy with how Bolingoli dealt with the occasion:
Incredible performance considering the pressure he’s been under. He was the stand out man for me for that fact he had been written off by many ?
— Stuart Gillan (@StuartGillan2) 1 September 2019
The bhoy done good. ☘️☘️
— mepd (@pdDaly) 1 September 2019
So many people have wrote him off. Give this man more time and he can defo play a huge part for 10
— Barry Nixon (@barrynixon1980) 1 September 2019
Boli was excellent today. He’s slowly improving and today should be the catalyst to kick him on.
— Derek12345 (@Derek123453) 1 September 2019
Great perfomance from him, hopefully this is the game he kicks on from
— The Bhoy Liam ? (@LiamK372) 1 September 2019
He was brilliant
— jack (@penecelt) 1 September 2019
This bhoy has quick feet..pace ..quick pass
He will do— tattieheid (@numbersup_7) 1 September 2019
Boy was outstanding!!
— Steven Graham (@Steg_85) 1 September 2019
Boli was superb today. He’s settled in nicely ??
— DelMonte Shamrock ?????????????? (@DelMonteShamro1) 1 September 2019
Told you there was a player in there?
— Thomas (@sayitasicit1) 1 September 2019
At 24 years of age, it does seem that the Belgian defender will need to gain a bit more experience before he gets more consistency, but based on his one-off performance yesterday, there is a player with tremendous talent in there.
Along with Jullien, Abd Elhamed and even Moritz Bauer, having a positive first experience of the derby can only be a good thing going forward.