I've broken records at 17 and playing for Celtic is my ultimate dream in football
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Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
New Celtic star opens up on being compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic aged just 16 – and how he recovered from early setback
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE was once tipped as a bigger prospect than a self-proclaimed football god. So Benjamin Nygren could easily have allowed those comparisons with Sweden superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic to keep him awake at night. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of Sweden's best ever players Credit: Getty 3 Benjamin Nygren was compared to Zlatan as a teenager Credit: Getty Instead, the school kid closed his eyes when his head hit the pillow, and started visualising dreams of his own making. The new Celtic midfielder was just 16, and in first team at Gothenburg, when his coach told the world he was more advanced than the legendary Ibra was at the same age. Yet there was never any danger of Nygren's ego getting out of control. He said: 'Yeah, I noticed those stories. But I always just tried to focus on my football. I made my debut at 16, but it wasn't until I was 17 that I started to do well. 'I just started to have focus. When I was younger, I always had big dreams. 'That was to play for the Swedish national team and play in the biggest competitions for both my country and club. 'I have always had that dream. And that's the thing I am chasing every day. 'I am working as hard as I can to go as far as possible. I was at high school at the time of my debut. 'It was a huge thing, of course, but I always had that view in front of me when I was a young kid. I think most kids who play football have the same dream. 'But when I was very young I had a clear view that I wanted to be a professional football player. Shock scenes as Celtic and Ajax fans clash during Como Cup friendly tournament in Italy 'When anyone asked me what I wanted to be I would always say a professional football player. 'They would then say, 'But what if you don't become a football player?'. 'But I would reply, 'I WILL become a football player'. 'I've always had that focus and clear view in front of me and have been working so hard from a young age to fulfil it — I knew I could do it.' Nygren, 24, knows having that same single-mindedness is vital if he's to be successful at Celts. In his opinion, it's impossible to make the grade at the highest level of sport without it. He added: 'I agree. For me, mindset is one of the biggest parts of being in sports in general. That's all sports, including football. 'Maybe at 16 I had a good mental focus. But I have also learned a lot in the eight years since then, and that includes the ups and the downs. 'It's been very healthy. Everyone who is in sports knows how important the mental part is. 'Of course, you need to put in the work also. But focus is really important.' Nygren hasn't had it all his own way. He joined Belgian side Genk for £4.5million after less than 20 top-team appearances for Gothenburg. But things didn't work out as well as he hoped. There was a loan spell in the Netherlands with Heerenveen, before Nordsjaelland snapped him up. It was there that he got back on track, with the Hoops pouncing when they realised he was out of contact at the end of this year and available at a cut-price fee of around £1.7m. Nygren said: 'I have learned a lot through the years. That first time I played in front of a big audience was in Gothenburg when I was 16. 'That's a club which also has a lot of fans and very good fans. I had a really good relationship with them. 'I have played in front of big crowds many times, even though I am still pretty young. I've learned a lot during my years.' Nygren speaks with real confidence. But it's not to be confused with arrogance. It's just like he's got an older head on his young shoulders. Coming to the champions of Scotland doesn't seem to have fazed him in any way. He added: 'It's been very good so far. I've only got very good first impressions of everything, the staff, the players and the whole organisation — as well as the fans. 'It's been easy to settle in, and I've just tried to focus on my thing and showing my qualities and how good I am. 'I always feel confident of bringing that to all of the training sessions as well as the games I play. 'That's something I want to show so it's been really good and I am happy to be here.' Nygren is also close friends with fellow Swedish international Jordan Larsson — the son of a certain Hoops legend Henrik. He said: 'The last time I spoke with Jordan was when we were away with the national team a month ago. 'Of course, I know about his dad — the King of Kings, right? 'I have seen many YouTube clips of him scoring a lot of goals for Celtic. 'I haven't met Henrik, but Jordan is an amazing guy and he is also doing very well in his football career.' Copenhagen striker Larsson has been linked with Celts down the years, mainly because of the family connection. Nygren added: 'Yeah, and it's never too late, you know! 'But that's not my job. That's for the sporting director.' 3 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Belfast Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Derry City forced to settle for home draw with Bohemians in clash marred by off-pitch disorder
While the Candystripes and Bohemians played out a 1-1 draw on the pitch, there were ugly scenes outside the ground with clashes between numerous masked youths and damage done to property and cars in the vicinity. Shamrock Rovers were the real winners on the night with the draw suiting neither team; the League leaders benefiting without kicking a ball. New Derry striker Dipo Akinyemi was certainly making his presence felt on his first appearance at the Brandywell as he was involved in everything positive for the home side, testing Kacper Chorazka twice before skilfully flicking the ball into the path of Michael Duffy, who drilled a shot just wide from 20 yards. The game was held up for five minutes at the half-hour mark when a flare was thrown onto the pitch, causing a hold-up in play. The home side had the best chance of the game in added-time at the end of the first-half when Liam Boyce's ball over the top sent Akinyemi in on goal, but the striker was denied his first goal for the club by Chorazka, who stuck out his left leg to keep the ball out. But Akinyemi didn't have to wait long as, four minutes into the five added-on, he was on hand to give Derry the lead, getting on the end of a brilliant cross from debutant Brandon Fleming to head the home side into the lead from close range. Bohs were lucky to get into the break just a goal down as City very nearly struck again just 60 seconds later; this time Liam Boyce got in behind, and while he was denied a shot, he turned back to find Diallo, who drilled an effort left-footed just wide of the target. The half-time break came at the perfect time for Bohs, who needed some respite, and they made the most of it, coming out for the second-half on steadier feet and levelling just seven minutes into the half. James Clarke ran in behind and held firm under pressure until he played the ball across the face of goal for Ross Tierney to volley the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. The home side struggled to respond from that setback until 10 minutes from time when Duffy crossed for substitute Robbie Benson, who floated a header agonisingly past the upright with Chorazka beaten at full stretch. That was the start of a late push from Derry, and Chorazka had to be alert and strong to push away a volley from Danny Mullen after the ball had broken into the path of the substitute. But it was too little, too late for the home side who paid the price for a lacklustre second-half, unable to win either of their two games in hand over the leaders in what has been a frustrating few weeks for Tiernan Lynch and his players. Derry City: Maher, R Boyce (Benson 69), Bannon, Connolly, Todd, Fleming, Diallo (Frizzell 90), Winchester, Duffy, L Boyce (Mullen 69), Akinyemi (O'Reilly 57). Bohemians: Chorazka, Mountney (Smith 67), Byrne, Kavanagh, Flores, Devoy, Morahan; McDonell (Parsons 74), Rooney, Clarke (Whelan 74), Tierney. Man of the Match: Brandon Fleming (Derry City) Match rating: 6/10
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Defiant Benjamin Nygren delivers Celtic prophecy for Champions League after Ajax reality check
The drubbing from the Dutch giants has sparked some creeping concerns for the Hoops Benjamin Nygren insists Celtic WILL be ready for their crucial Champions League showdown next month. Ajax wiped the floor with the Hoops in Thursday's night's 5-1 friendly reality check for Celts with boss Brendan Rodgers admitted his squad is still short of what is required for the coming season. The champions kick-off their title defence to St Mirren in eight days and are four weeks away from a crunch clash to get into the Champions League group stage – with the draw a week on Monday. Nygren has hit the ground running following his £1.7m move and impressed in recent runouts against Newcastle United and Sporting Lisbon. And he is adamant Celts won't be caught cold for the big one. Nygren said: 'I am confident we will be ready for those matches. 'We have very good players and I have already seen in the training games that we have a lot of quality. It wasn't good enough against Ajax but we will be ready.' Nygren is determined to blast his way to the big time and the Euro theme tune would be music to his ears. He said: 'The Champions League is a huge ambition for me and one of those dreams I have. 'I want to play at that level and hear that anthem. I really, really want to take that step.' Nygren has made a slick start with Celts in pre-season and he admitted he already feels right at home. He said: 'It's been very good. I've only got very good first impressions of everything, the staff, the players and the whole organisation - as well as the fans. 'It's been easy to settle in and I've just tried to focus on my thing and showing my qualities and how good I am. 'I always feel confident of bringing that to all of the training sessions as well as the games I play. 'That's something I want to show so it's been really good and I am happy to be here.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
