NIR BITTON has changed his tune dramatically on internationals being played this month after going against Celtic’s wishes in October to turn out for his country.
Nir was injured last month and Celtic manager Neil Lennon was confident the defender couldn’t play for his country due to the injury issue. However, Nir didn’t just play against Scotland; he got the full game, including extra time and penalties.
It would transpire the injury would be the least of his and Celtic’s issue with the Israeli catching the virus which floored him and kept him out of the team for the rest of October and start of November.
Bitton spoke about defying the club after the Scotland game back in October as cited by the EveningExpress:
“Celtic is the club who pay my salary but as a person, as a professional athlete, I couldn’t give up on this game.
“These are the games you dream of playing when you are six years old.
“Even the day after the injury I told the medical staff at Celtic that I wanted to give myself a chance. I twisted my ankle very badly away in Bosnia and I didn’t believe I could make it.
“On the way back home on Friday I was on crutches, I was in a wheelchair and I couldn’t even walk on the foot.
“But I wasn’t going to rule myself out of the game until I knew that I couldn’t play.
“I never give up, I always try to push myself to the limit but to be honest the medical staff here did an unbelievable job, they treated me like their child with treatment three times a day.
“I played this game only because of them and I understand the frustration of Celtic. I was glad I made it but it is a bit frustrating now.”
Now back in the side, Nir thinks going out on international duty is a bad idea and compromises the season.
We’d question his outlook after Israel were knocked out of the Euro’s be Scotland last month, so there’s not anything big to play for from an Israeli point of view. However, they do have to Nation League games.
“If it was my decision, I would cancel it but it’s not my decision. There is nothing I can do about it. Since I came back to Celtic in June we have been in a bubble. We are not allowed to go to restaurants. We are not allowed to have people in the house.” Nir told RecordSport.
“We are in a small circle for four or five months already. Then you go to the national team and you are mixed up with a lot of players from different countries. You don’t know where they have been.”
“It’s just all over the place. You need to be lucky to not get it. It’s almost impossible to control this virus when you go away with your national team and are mixed up with a lot of players from different countries and different bubbles.”
We’re glad Nir is back and fit for the club. Either it’s easier to say scrap international games after you’ve been knocked out of a competition or you have a new found outlook after contracting the virus.
Many Celtic stars will head out and will be desperate to play for their country. The Scotland boys will especially be looking to make history.
