Key Points
- Ibrahim Cissoko, Bolton Wanderers winger, feels confident and up to speed after initial struggles since joining on loan from Toulouse.
- Cissoko played on loan for Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, gaining valuable experience.
- He believes the current league is even tougher than the Championship due to its physicality and pace.
- Scored his first Bolton goal against Huddersfield Town and impressed in a 4-0 win over Port Vale.
- Cissoko cites his youth experience playing futsal and street football with older players as key to his physical style.
- He initially fell behind teammate Thierry Gale but worked hard to earn his place.
- Jimmy Dickinson, now Bolton’s head of recruitment, spotted Cissoko at Plymouth Argyle.
- Cissoko’s loan to Plymouth was interrupted by a hip injury and a difficult spell at Sheffield Wednesday followed.
- He expressed a strong desire to return to English football, describing it as having “unfinished business” and preferring Bolton's playing style.
- Cissoko qualifies to play internationally for both the Netherlands and Guinea.
What has Ibrahim Cissoko said about adapting to English football and Bolton Wanderers?
As reported by The Bolton News, Ibrahim Cissoko, the former Dutch Under-21 international and current winger for Bolton Wanderers, shared insights into his adaptation to English football since joining the club on loan from Toulouse in France.
“I had some really good games in the Championship," Cissoko told journalist David McDonnell of The Bolton News, referencing his spells at Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday.
"But I find this league even tougher because you have no time, there are players on you’re a** all the time.”
He spoke candidly about the physical demands in League One, explaining:
“We are into the season now, I think I'm up to speed, I'm used to the physicality. You know you're going to get kicked, there's going to be big defenders looking to knock you out a touch.”
Cissoko revealed that playing against older and stronger players from a young age shaped his resilient playing style:
“From a young age, I played football with older guys on the street, so I think that's where you start to learn how to use your body against stronger opponents, stronger guys, so I think I have no trouble with it.”
He added confidently:
“If they want to kick me, that means I'm good. They can't handle me!”
How has Ibrahim Cissoko performed for Bolton since joining?
Cissoko’s confidence has risen after scoring his first goal for Bolton against Huddersfield Town earlier in November and delivering an eye-catching performance in a 4-0 win over Port Vale.
Talking about his start to the season, Cissoko told The Bolton News,
“It was tough, but I have got the hang of it now. For sure, the goal against Huddersfield helped. The guys gave me confidence. And myself, I know I'm a good player, so it has to work out in the end.”
He described the importance of perseverance:
“If you do the right things, hard work pays off every time, so even at that struggling time, I was not panicking. I just tried to keep doing the right things and then everything will be good. I live by that, so that's what I'm trying to do.”
What influence did Ibrahim Cissoko's previous loan spells have on his career?
Jimmy Dickinson, now Bolton Wanderers’ head of recruitment, spotted Ibrahim Cissoko during his time at Plymouth Argyle last season. However, the winger's promising start at Plymouth was interrupted by a hip injury.
Cissoko admitted that his subsequent loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday was difficult. As he told The Bolton News,
“I think the spell at Plymouth was the best in my career so far. I hadn’t played too much in Toulouse but I wanted to express myself. Getting the injury was a big blow and as you can see, I struggled at Sheffield Wednesday. It wasn’t easy to play there. Last season was not how I wanted to be, but that's football.”
Despite these challenges, he expressed a strong desire to return to England:
“I said to my agent I wanted to go straight back to England. I feel like I have some unfinished business. I just loved the smell of English football, the Championship. I like everything, it’s top.”
Why did Ibrahim Cissoko choose Bolton Wanderers over other clubs?
Cissoko revealed that his discussions with Bolton's management influenced his decision to join the club:
“The manager is playing wingers and when I spoke to him I didn’t want to go to any other club. I had some other options but the right playing style was important to me,”
he said to The Bolton News.
His preference was clearly shaped by the club’s tactical approach and his ambition to succeed in English football.
What is unique about Ibrahim Cissoko’s playing style?
Born in the Netherlands and eligible for Guinea internationally, Cissoko attributes part of his playing style to his early futsal experience in continental Europe.
He told The Bolton News,
“I played Futsal on the continent – a factor he says helped shape his unique playing style.”
This influence likely contributes to his agility, close ball control, and ability to handle physical defenders tightly marking him.
How does Ibrahim Cissoko view the physical nature of the league?
Cissoko embraced the physical challenges of the league, stating:
“You know you're going to get kicked, there's going to be big defenders looking to knock you out a touch.”
He sees physicality as a sign of respect and a challenge he welcomes. Reflecting on his youth football experience, he said,
“If they want to kick me, that means I'm good. They can’t handle me!”
What are Ibrahim Cissoko’s future ambitions?
While not directly quoted about his long-term ambitions, Cissoko's comments indicate a strong desire to establish himself in English football and prove his quality at Bolton Wanderers, with aspirations that could include earning a permanent move or further progress in his career internationally.