Nothing feels as good as proving all those haters who doubted me WRONG

AS Nir Bitton helped Celtic dine out at European football’s top table, he enjoyed handing down a slice of humble pie for his detractors to eat.

The Israeli had heard the malicious whispers; that Celtic could never qualify for the group stage of the Champions League with the midfielder in the team, operating as an auxiliary defender.

Yet despite nervy nights in Be’er Sheva in 2016 and Astana in 2017, Bitton succeeded in making his critics eat their words as Celtic clinched high-profile encounters with the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich.

After signing a new contract extension keeping him with the Scottish champions until 2023, Bitton has vowed to keep using the haters’ words as fuel.

He is also eyeing a fresh European adventure after Neil Lennon’s side was yesterday paired with FC Copenhagen in the last 32 of the Europa League.

‘When I first started playing at centre-half, it wasn’t my best position but I tried to do my best and we qualified for the Champions League,’ the 28-year-old recalled.

‘It was a big achievement for me because a lot of people doubted me. They were saying Celtic had no chance of qualifying with Bitton at centre-back.

‘But that’s just something that gave me extra drive and motivation.

‘Who doubted me? Some people around the club, some journalists, some people on TV. We are all human. We all have ears — and I have big ears and I heard things.

‘It’s not something I take personally. I wouldn’t say it gets me angry. It just gives me extra motivation. I want to show the people who doubt me and my ability that I can do it.

‘There’s nothing better than showing your haters that you can do what they say you can’t — and that you can succeed.’

Bitton’s bright mood yesterday as he penned his new deal was a million miles away from how bleak he felt when he feared his career could be over.

He had choked back tears after an appointment with a Harley Street medic last year told him at best he faced a year out of the game after picking up a knee injury at Kilmarnock in February 2018.

Even now, he has no idea what he would do if he was not a professional footballer.

‘When I look back to 14 months ago, it was a dark time and I thought I might need to finish playing football. That was difficult for me,’ he said.

‘What job would I have done if I had not recovered from the injury? Who knows!

‘I could be a taxi driver maybe. I’d find something but it’s always difficult if you ask any athlete what they would do if their career was over in their 20s. That will be difficult for me when I am 35, never mind 28.

‘One of the hardest things when I was injured was watching the team celebrating and not being part of that. But now I’m playing and winning trophies again.

‘But, when you’re injured for a long time, a new contract is the last thing you think about.

‘I’m just delighted it’s been done. As soon as Celtic said they wanted me to stay it was a no-brainer.

‘I’m playing for an amazing, unbelievable club so, when I was offered the chance to stay here for a while longer, then I was always going to take it.

‘I’m still a baby — only 28 — and it’s good for me and my family to have that security and for Celtic to show their faith in me.

‘I don’t take anything for granted after what I’ve been through with injuries. That makes this mean even more to me. I’m so happy the club trusts me with a new contract. I love it here and I enjoy living in Scotland. If I didn’t, I would not have signed a new contract.

‘The weather is terrible but, apart from that, Glasgow is a nice city and Scotland is a nice country with nice people. It was great to see Neil Lennon come back to the club last year because he was the manager who signed me in the beginning when I was just a young boy at 21 and he has shown trust in me through my career.

‘Now I am ready to keep giving 100 per cent for him. If he wants me to play in midfield, I will play in midfield. If he wants me to play in defence, I will play in defence. That’s how it goes at a club like Celtic.’ Bitton is now quietly confident of progressing in the Europa League after yesterday’s last-32 draw saw Celtic paired with Copenhagen, who boast the admittedly waning talents of veteran former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

‘It’s a tough draw and they will be tough games,’ said Bitton. ‘We need to make sure we are ready. Hopefully we get a good result.

‘I’ve played against Bendtner before and he is a big striker and he’s difficult to play against.

‘It’s going to be difficult no matter who you are playing at this stage of the competition. But it’s not about him. And it’s not about who is marking him. It’s about Celtic and Copenhagen — and if we are ready then we can get a result.’