Dedryck Boyata has refused to reveal Vincent Kompany’s advise after the Celtic defender made his World Cup debut for Belgium.
The 27-year-old stood in for the Manchester City skipper as the Belgian’s eased to a 3-0 win over Panama.
A win over Tunisia would book a place in the last 16 for the Red Devils with Kompany expected to be available for the final group match against England.
For the first half of Brendan Rodgers’ debut season at Celtic Boyata was left watching from the stand but on the back of another treble winning season everything seems to be falling into place for the former Manchester City defender.
“I’d rather keep to myself what Vincent had to say to me after my performance, but he really touched my heart,” Boyata told the Evening Times. “I learned to grow with him, but it’s important for me to make my own way and I’ve achieved my goal. He’s become just another team-mate.
“I’m pleased with my performance and with that of the Belgium team as a whole. It was my first World Cup match and I had to keep my emotions in check. It was a real performance.”
While Belgium look set for an extended run in the World Cup Finals at club level Celtic are preparing to step up their pre-season work.
Despite being without Boyata, Tom Rogic and Mikael Lustig, Rodgers will take his squad to Austria on Monday to step up their preparations for the new season which starts away to Alashkert of Armenia on July 10.