Odsonne Edouard has hit back at those who doubted him, with the former Celtic striker making it clear he never questioned his own ability.
Now finding the net again, Edouard has opened up on the criticism that followed him after his time in England. His spell at Crystal Palace saw him fall out of favour, and at one point he was not even included in matchday squads.
That period shaped how people viewed him. There were doubts about whether he could still perform at a high level, despite what he had done earlier in his career. For a player who scored regularly in Scotland and played in Europe, that shift has clearly stayed with him.
Celtic has always been part of that conversation. His time at the club set a high bar, and anything after has been judged against it. When links to a return appeared, some framed it as a risk rather than a clear move forward.
Edouard has responded directly to that after his brilliant season at Lens, with 12 goals and 3 assists in 25 Ligue 1 matches.
He said: (Onze Mondial), “When you see people saying or writing, ‘The Odsonne Édouard bet – it’s a gamble’ – I’d like to bet on someone who’s played in the Champions League, the Europa League, who’s scored goals in the Premier League, and pretty much everywhere he’s played.
“I’d like to bet on a 27-year-old player who’s scored over 100 career goals.
“That’s what annoyed me a bit. I’ve been, in a manner of speaking, underestimated.
“I wasn’t playing at all for a while, I wasn’t even making the squads anymore, I was invisible to people.
“I was training two to three times a day. I was waiting for this moment and as soon as I had the opportunity to play again, I had to show everyone that I was here, that I was still capable of scoring goals.”
“The key was to get back to peak physical condition quite quickly. I knew that was going to be the biggest challenge.
“In terms of my footballing abilities, I had no doubt. I knew it would work, that I would score goals.”
His case is built on what he has already done. Over 100 career goals, experience in Europe, and a track record across different leagues. That is what he points to when doubts are raised.
The fitness side also stands out. Without regular games, sharpness drops. Getting that back is what lets a striker find space and take chances again.
For Celtic, it adds another layer to any future link. The player believes he still produces. The question has always been whether that version shows up consistently.
Right now, Edouard’s message is clear. He never lost belief in his game, even when others did.
