Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic will take on Bayern Munich at Celtic Park in the Champions League this evening.
Nir Bitton is a defensive midfielder by trade, but on more than one occasion this season, the 25-year-old has been deployed as a central defender by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Bitton has been on the books of Celtic since the summer of 2013 when he joined from FC Ashdod for a transfer fee reported by The Daily Record to be worth £700,000.
The Israel international has established himself as an important player for the Hoops over the years, but his performances at centre-back have not been great.
With Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko out injured, Celtic boss Rodgers has deployed Bitton as a centre-back, but performances and results in Europe have not been great.
Bayern Munich will take on Celtic at Celtic Park in the Champions League this evening, and Bitton is likely to be played at centre-back.
Dedryck Boyata is arguably the best central defender on the books of Celtic at the moment, and the former Manchester City man has backed Bitton to be a success.
“He is a very good player,” Boyata told The Scottish Sun about Bitton. “He is calm and good on the ball. Of course, the defensive aspect is different when you play as a centre-back but he’s all right.
“I talk a lot to Nir on the pitch. When I play alongside him I shout at him. I usually lose my voice in a game!”
“Game after game he just gets better and better,” added Boyata. “I have 100 per cent confidence in Nir. It must be tough for him. I would find it difficult being asked to play in midfield or attack.
Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has sent a message to his teammate Kieran Tierney on Twitter and Instagram after the left-back signed a new contract with the Hoops.
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