Be’erare bullish about Glasgow trip
DEFENSIVE organiser Miguel Vitor last night insisted Hapoel Be’er Sheva are a side firmly on the up, ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Celtic Park.
The Israelis are Champions League rookies, having won their Premier League title for the first time in 40 years.
Vitor is also in new surroundings. He was one of Hapoel’s close-season captures, having being released by Greek side PAOK, three seasons after leaving his first love, Benfica.
The 27-year-old might even claim to have laid some of the foundation stones to Leicester City’s success last season after a season on loan at the King Power Stadium five years ago.
A cultured stopper, he has earned admiration for his composed displays in the goalless draws at Sheriff FC and Olympiacos in the qualifying rounds.
But the stopper knows Celtic are a step up for the Israeli side.
“After such a fight to become champions, the Champions League is a huge achievement for the Hapoel players,” enthused Vitor.
“It’s a new competition for the club, a new standard against which they will all be judged. It’s where the players have wanted to be for so many seasons.
“Now we are just one match away from reaching the group stages and a huge cash bonus for the club.
“I’ve only been with my new team-mates for a few weeks, but the enthusiasm and confidence that they have gained in Europe has been driving them forward with great momentum. “So we are ready for Celtic now. “I think it’s good we are in Scotland first. We have been very good defensively in the two qualifying ties, and I feel we will be again.
“Looking at Celtic’s results, it has not been all that easy for them in their two qualifying ties. But every side striving to get through to the Champions League proper is difficult.
“We have to build our platform for victory over the tie in Glasgow, and we’ll be trying to score.
“Careful, educated defending does not mean battling in your own box. We can’t get pushed back like that.
“But we feel confident about the home job, so long as it is realistic.”