Nir Bitton admits he was nervous against Astana

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Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic won against FC Astana at Celtic Park in the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday evening.

Celtic defensive midfielder Nir Bitton has admitted to The Scottish Sun that he was nervous playing as a central defender against FC Astana at home earlier this week.

Scottish Premiership club Celtic took on Kazakhstan Premier League side Astana at Celtic Park in the first leg of the Champions League playoff tie on Wednesday evening.

The Glasgow giants won the game in Glasgow 5-0 and look set to progress to the group stage of the Champions League for the second successive season.

Due to injuries to Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko, Bitton was deployed as a centre-back for Celtic.

The 25-year-old Israel international is a defensive midfielder by trade, and the former FC Ashdod star, who joined Celtic in the summer of 2013, has admitted that he was nervous in the centre-back role.

“I am trying to do my best,” Bitton told The Scottish Sun. “Wherever I play I will try and help the team to win.

“I’m happy we did that on Wednesday night. It’s not about me, I think we played an amazing game and hopefully it will be enough for us.

“Maybe I didn’t show any nerves to the fans, but there were a few. These kind of matches are always nervy games. They are pressure games and you need to be at your best.”

Celtic will return to action this afternoon when they take on Kilmarnock away from home at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership; Brendan Rodgers’s side will be expected to win the game.