Treble only matters if it helps team
Liel Abada will take a trip down memory lane this afternoon when he lines up against Dundee United at Tannadice.
The Celtic winger’s treble last August in a nine-goal demolition remains a career highlight for the Israeli but he insists personal achievements fall far behind the bigger picture.
That remarkable afternoon on Tayside may have threatened the record books but Abada believes it was just business as usual.
He said: “It was a great moment because it was my first hat-trick for Celtic – but the most important thing was the three points.
“Everyone did their job on the pitch and helped each other, especially the players who scored and were attacking.
“We need to do that every game – we need to play our football, stay calm and keep going.
“We work hard on the pitch to try to score a lot of goals and attack every time we can – we just need to keep going.”
The flurry of early-season goals has dried up a bit for Abada who has netted only once since the start of November.
But he’s adamant that his performance and embracing the team ethic matter more than improving his own scoring tally.
He said: “I want to help the team get three points and play well.
“It doesn’t matter who scores. Yes, goals and assists are great – but the most important thing is to win every game.
“We have a lot of quality players, a very good squad, and everyone needs to play well every time they get the chance. We just try to help the team win every game.
“Each match is hard and there is pressure to turn up and play our football, work hard on the pitch and hopefully get three points. “We’ve new signings now and I am sure everyone wants the team to reach our targets this season but we stay calm, focus on the game and play our football. “Everyone works hard for the team and I am sure they will play their part in the games.”
Celtic are set to open contract extension talks with Abada to fend off interest from down south and further afield but the 21-year- old insists he has put those dealings on the backburner with his current deal ending in summer 2026.
He said: “For now, I am not focused on it, I am focused on the games. What will happen, will happen. I’m only looking forward to playing United.”