NIR BITTON's path of redemption since his red-card that tipped the balance of a Champions League tie against FC Midtjylland this summer, the first competitive game of Ange Postecoglou’s reign, has been reflected in the 33 games he has played since for Celtic. 

One of the seasoned performers within the Parkhead side, Bitton has been used at key stages of the campaign for the Greek-Australian. 

There was a red card too for the Israeli internationalist the last time Celtic played Dundee United, whom they meet on Scottish Cup duty tomorrow evening. If the midfielder is still irked about that one he knows that for any player at the club it is about a winning mentality from the moment the door to the club first opens. 

“First of all I don’t think it was a red card, you know we have seen some crazy decisions in this league,” he said.  “It is a game of football and we have seen a lot of times when teams have won games with ten players, even nine players. 

“If I had stayed on the pitch I don’t know if we would have won the game so maybe my red card was better for the team. 

“I will be honest with you having been here nine years this club is always wanting to win. There is no time to settle in or take your time.  As soon as you sign for this club there is a big expectation on you. Everyone expects you to win games and everyone expects you to compete for titles, trophies.

“When the gaffer signed we all knew it would be a tough start because a lot of new players came in but we have improved a lot in this time. We are a good place and hopefully it will continue.” 

Having been part of the Invincibles side and part of the quadruple Treble winning era, Bitton has an appreciation of the mentality required to deliver success over a sustained period.  

“You don’t really think about winning the Treble on a daily basis,” he said.

“You just come to training every single day preparing for the next match and taking it step by step. We don’t think too far, there are still two months to play in this season and we will try to do our best in every game. 

“When you play for Celtic you want to win every trophy possible and we just take it step by step. There are still plenty of games to play and we just try to do our best in every single game and we will see at the end of the season.” 

Despite the success he has had at Celtic, Bitton has insisted that he takes nothing for granted. Postecoglou has set a high bar in terms of the standards and intensity expected at training with the suspicion being that anyone who felt safe in the team would find themselves out of favour. 

“I don’t take it for granted, playing for this massive club is a big achievement for me. I am part of a good team and I just want to continue. Yeah, I signed as a midfielder but then during the years with injuries (to other players) some managers have asked me to play centre back which I totally accept and I get it. 

“So I try to do my best whether as a midfielder or as a centre back. You have good games and you have bad games, you need to accept it. As I said in previous interviews, it does not matter where the gaffer picks me to play, I will try to do the best for him, for the coaching staff and for the fans.

“Sometimes it goes better, sometimes worse but at the end of the day it is football and bigger players than me have had bad games so I am okay with that.”