‘£50m CELT’ READY FOR PARIS

1

CELTIC must find a way of curbing the £400million attacking threat of Paris Saint-German when they travel to the French capital on Wednesday for their second last Champions League encounter.

The Hoops, of course, suffered their biggest-ever home defeat in Europe in September when they crashed by five goals to Neymar and Co.

PSG have been running amok in the competition and have claimed 17 goals so far with Bayern Munich and Anderlecht also on the receiving end and have yet to concede in Group B.

Nir Bitton, who strolled through the 1-0 win over Ross County in Dingwall at the weekend, could once again be asked to perform in the middle of the defence alongside Dedryck Boyata.

SPFL_ROSSCO_CELTIC_ 1198_1_preview

The 26-year-old Israeli international midfielder is determined the French giants will not get it all their own way in front of their fans in midweek.

He said: “PSG beat us 5-0 at home, but I think we can get a better result this time.

“The pride is still there and we will go there and do our best. In every game you go out there and try to get the best result that you can.

“PSG are better than Celtic and they showed that in the first game. But we need to go to Paris and – you never know – maybe we’ll be in the Europa League on Wednesday.

”To be honest, when you play games against that kind of team you make one mistake and you pay for it.

“When you play against Neymar, Mbappe, Cavani – it doesn’t matter who plays there – you need to make no mistakes and compete.

“If we do that, hopefully, this will be another kind of game from the one in Glasgow.”

Bitton takes a bit of hope from the Bayern Munich match last month although the Hoops lost 2-1 at a packed Parkhead.

He added: “We tried to show everyone that we deserve to play on this stage and Bayern was a very good game for us. It told everyone that we can play and defend.

SPFL_ROSSCO_CELTIC_ 1244_preview

“We need to be sure that we concentrate 100 per cent in midweek and that we are ready to play and face the challenge. Hopefully, we can do that.”

Bitton is ready to be tested again in the rearguard. He has been getting tips from his ex-Hoops team-mate and friend Virgil van Dijk.

He laughed: “I told you a few weeks ago I’m a £50million player!

“No, as I said before I am trying to do my best and still trying to learn the position.

“I don’t know if you see it, but Dedryck Boyata is talking to me all through the game. I don’t know if he has lost his voice by now.

“He is trying to help and guide me. I am trying to do my best. I don’t know if it’s more aggression, but, as a centre-back, you need to jump, to be strong and press the strikers.

“As long as the gaffer gives me the chance to play, I will do my best.

“I haven’t played centre midfield for a long time now. If Brendan Rodgers thinks I deserve to play centre-back, that’s what I will do.

“If he thinks I should play as goalkeeper, that’s what I will do!

“I am enjoying my football and winning and I am just trying to keep that going.”

ON THIS DAY, 1976…

NEW CQN PODCAST, KEVIN MILES IN SESSION, SENSATIONAL!

ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY OF JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, A LISBON LION DIARY TODAY!

SIGNED COPY!

SIGNED COPY!

RightBackTo67ADVERT

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author