Nir Bitton is delighted to be back playing again and is ready to play his part in Celtic’s push for more silverware this season.
He believes the mental resolve he summoned up to do that is ingrained within the entire Hoops side, and evidence for that was clear last week when the champions overcame the tribulations thrown in front of them.
Seven consecutive league titles is a perfect illustration of Celtic’s long-standing domestic dominance, and so the managerial changes at Paradise last week will have left Celtic’s rivals with the illusion that the champions might have suffered a blow and could be challenged.
Neil Lennon’s swift appointment will have damped any such expectations, however. The former Celtic legend, who led the club to the first three titles in the current run as well as some memorable European results, had returned home.
And any hopes that the changes would somehow have unravelled the team’s focus were brushed aside 24 hours later when Celtic triumphed at Tynecastle with a dramatic last-minute winner, created by captain Scott Brown and finished by Odsonne Edouard.
Celtic followed that up three days later with a win in another difficult away tie as they booked their place in the Scottish Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win against Hibernian at Easter Road.
Speaking exclusively to the Celtic View, Nir Bitton, who played in both of those games, said: “Tynecastle is a difficult stadium to play at and their style of play is to play long balls and fight for the second ball.
“This is always difficult to play against but we showed great character to win the game.
This story is from the Vol 54 Issue 32 edition of Celtic View.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Vol 54 Issue 32 edition of Celtic View.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
Jodie Bartle was delighted to score her first goal for Celtic, a week after her derby strike was controversially disallowed
TOMMY BHOY
Celtic legend was a supporter first, last and always
WOUNDED PRIDE
Christopher Jullien was a frustrated spectator as he recovered from injury, but now that he’s back, he’s determined to play his part along with his team-mates to get back to winning ways
ON THIS DAY
HISTORY OF PLAYERS
KEEP THE FAITH
Manager knows hard work can and will deliver an upturn in fortunes for his Celtic side
THE LAST WORD
NEXT week the Christmas edition of the Celtic View will be out, which means this will be the last column I write in 2020.
FOUNDATION CHRISTMAS APPEAL SPOTLIGHT: THE INVISIBLES
WE continue our spotlight series on the organisations we hope to support through this year’s Celtic FC Foundation Christmas Appeal, with a closer look at the work of The Invisibles, a Glasgow-based voluntary organisation, which aims to provide comfort to those living on the city’s streets.
LIVING THE DREAM
Danny Crainie was proud to wear the Hoops and he continues to back the team as a supporter
EVERYONE IS HURTING AT THE RUN WE'RE ON
IT was a disconsolate home dressing room at Celtic on Sunday, as the team reflected on their first domestic cup defeat in over four years.
9 from NINE
The View wants YOUR views on the Hoops’ remarkable decade of dominance