Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton has discussed his experiences of leading pre-match huddles, as he joked that it’s like making a wedding speech.
Bitton has been the stand-in captain ever since Callum McGregor had to come off with a serious facial injury against Alloa last weekend. Therefore, it’s been his role to lead the on-field motivational talk within the huddle against Hearts and Dundee United respectively.
Celtic have gone on to win both matches, but Nir will be out for Wednesday night’s game against Rangers after being sent off against Dundee United yesterday.
Even so, he’s had plenty experience of doing pre-match huddles as a stand-in. And as he lauded Callum McGregor and former captain Scott Brown, Bitton gave a humorous response when addressing his team talks.
As quoted by the Sunday Mail [print edition, 30/01, page 65], Bitton said: “I’m lucky I got to play with one of the greatest captains in Celtic’s history in Scott Brown. He was a role model for all of us. He’s a guy I learned a lot from. Callum is now a great captain as well. So I’ve had great role models here.
“The huddle can be like trying to do a wedding speech! You try to think before what you’re going to say but in the huddle, everything disappears. With the emotions, the atmosphere, the words just come out.”
Nir Bitton won’t be involved in Celtic vs Rangers huddle after suspension
Bitton has had a fine year as a Celtic player with Ange putting him back into his former midfield role on a regular basis. It’s clear he sees the Israeli as a central midfielder first and foremost, and you feel Nir’s performances have benefited largely from that adjustment.
He’s also stood up to the captaincy role extremely well in the past when called upon. He led from the front well against Hearts and was central to much of Celtic’s promising attacking play against Dundee United yesterday. The truth is he was unfortunate to pick up his sending off. It looked as though Nir simply tripped and accidentally fell onto the Tannadice man. It certainly wasn’t done purposefully.
Regardless, Nir won’t be involved on Wednesday night and that’s a major blow for Ange Postecoglou as he tries to shuffle his pack once more. James McCarthy is likely to come into the mix when you look at our current options. Not unless Ange has something up his sleeve for Rangers’ visit.
As for the huddle discussion, all players certainly looked engaged when listening to Bitton’s words in both matches. Well, with the exception of Reo Hatate who doesn’t quite seem to understand how the huddle works yet!
Scott Brown and Callum McGregor always show[ed] great enthusiasm in their pre-match talks. It didn’t matter who the opposition was and it certainly didn’t have to be a big game. Both men look both intense and demanding when talking to their teammates.
Hopefully, whoever takes up the mantle on Wednesday night offers a similar influence. Even if there should be no extra motivation necessary to down Rangers at Parkhead.
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