Ryan Christie responds to Celtic exit for 'small club' barb as he names key Bournemouth difference

Defiant Ryan Christie insists he shut out criticism that he was leaving Celtic for a "small club" in the summer.

The Scotland cap signed for EFL Championship side Bournemouth in a move that raised eyebrows north of the border.

Pundits had claimed it was a money based on finances rather than the size of the club, but Christie insists he has always wanted to play in England.

When asked by The Times if he had heard the criticism of leaving Celtic for Bournemouth was a step down, he said: "Yes, I heard a bit of that.

"But having played for Celtic for a few years, you learn to ignore quite a few comments that are made.

"The decision to leave Celtic and come here was made over a period of time, and I knew deep down that it was the right decision.

"Every time I sat down last year with my family and my girlfriend we knew this was what I wanted to do: come to England.

"And once I came down here last summer, and joined the team and started playing, I knew I'd made the correct decision. That immediately put me at ease and I've been enjoying it ever since."

With Bournemouth battling at the top of the Championship with eyes on a English Premier League return, Christie is convinced he made the right call.

He reckons he has only improved as a player since trading the Scottish Premiership for the English second tier.

The forward continued: "I'm playing in a much more competitive league, I would say.

"I don't think I've ever seen a league before where literally all the teams can beat each other. The gap from the top to the bottom is not as big as you'd expect, and it's ultra-competitive.

"It is also very physically demanding, which I've noticed in some of the games.

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