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Mohamed Elyounoussi insists that no one should question his commitment.
And the Celtic hat-trick hero insists that the united front displayed by Neil Lennon’s players at Fir Park confirms that they all share a deep desire to produce for the champions.
Elyounoussi responded to the criticism, directed at him when he was caught checking his phone during the Sparta Prague humiliation on weekdays, in the best way in Lanarkshire.
The 26-year-old’s hat-trick was perfectly timed for his club and his coach, as they achieved a vital 4-1 victory after being euthanized after losing by a similar score days earlier in the Europa League.
Elyounoussi ignited with the personal beating and said: “Yes, I was. I’m here to help the team score and win games.
“Of course I was frustrated and disappointed that someone questioned my professionalism and commitment. No one should question my professionalism, my commitment to the team and the best way to speak is with my feet.
“I read a comment that it was stupid of me, and it was a huge misunderstanding. That’s over, behind me. Anyone who knows me realizes that I give 100 percent for my team and I am very committed on the field.
“Of course we had to show a reaction from Thursday and we did. It was a great victory and good goals, so I’m happy.
“We are united as a team and we show character. Everyone had a really good game. We were aggressive and we had intensity in our game.
“I enjoy playing for this coach. I do not understand the criticism that has been. He is a great coach, I love playing with him.
“We are united. Everyone is behind him and the staff and this is the level we have to be at. The most important thing is to be consistent.
“The good thing about football is that there is always the next game. We didn’t have many days to recover after Thursday and think about what happened. The focus is always on the next game. We are in very good shape and unfortunately now there is a break ”.
Lennon endorsed the goal hero after his Motherwell magic and said: “I had a short chat with him. He explained what had happened and that was the end.
“He is a first-rate professional. I have no problem with his attitude or the way he behaves in the place. It was never a problem for me.
“Everyone is analyzing everything that we are doing at the moment. Elyounoussi on her phone and body language and this, that, and that. I got what I wanted.
“Elyounoussi scored a hat-trick after being unreasonably criticized for looking at a result on his phone the other night. That is unfair but you have responded in the right way. We asked him at half-time to go get the hat-trick that he didn’t get in Lille and it was a brilliant third goal ”.
Elyounoussi is in top form with his triple that has scored seven goals in his last six games.
The Norwegian international now has 11 this season, counting one who was credited in the 2019-20 Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen eight days ago, and is now in line to improve his best record for a season of 17.
Elyounoussi, who was also involved in substitute Olivier Ntcham’s fourth goal, was proud of his hat-trick and said: “I didn’t know I had that many (this season). I don’t focus on that. In the end we will see what the number is.
“I can always score more and in the end I am very happy to have scored all three points. I can always do better and I hope I can do better this season.
“To be honest, I am never satisfied. I always feel like I can do better, not only scoring goals but also assisting. Offensively I can do better, maybe create and produce more assists.
“I am never satisfied after a game, but here I am happy. I’ve scored a lot of headers in my career and I think people should stop underestimating me with their headers. I’ve done it, I’ve marked some headings.
“In the end I don’t jump very high, but I think I have a good moment and obviously the delivery was really good. So yeah, it was a great goal. “
Elyounoussi will now join the crowd of international players leaving Glasgow for their respective countries’ upcoming matches.
The attacker will head to Romania and Austria for the Nations League matches
and he has reiterated that he is not worried about traveling abroad.
Elyounoussi might be disappointed that Celtic have to wait to start from their victory in Lanarkshire, but said: “It is always good to finish with victory before the international break.
“But it does not matter. We will remain vigilant in any way.
“I feel very safe when I go out with Norway. We have our precautions and I’m sure everyone does, especially with UEFA’s protocols and restrictions.
“Hopefully everyone has a good experience with their international games and comes back healthy.”
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