Celtic have had a strong start to their domestic campaign, and even though they missed out on Champions League qualification, their primary goal would be to retain the domestic titles once again. The Hoops went in as underdogs for the recent Old Firm clash as Lennon’s team were reeling with injuries, especially at the back.
However, Nir Bitton and Christopher Jullien turned up with top performances, and it never felt like Celtic were playing with a makeshift backline.
Bitton’s impact this season
Jullien is a big-money signing from Toulouse, and he was expected to be an excellent defender. But Bitton has taken everyone by surprise with the ease with which he has slotted in defence in a centre back role. The Israel international is primarily a defensive midfielder, but with various injury crisis and departure of players at the start of the season, Lennon decided to deploy him in the heart of the defence.
He did well in the European qualifier ties, but many would have still said that quite a few games over there were a cakewalk for Celtic. However, his performance against Rangers showed that he is the real deal in defence as the Gers, were hardly able to carve out a clear cut opportunity for the full 90 minutes.
Bitton hardly seemed to break a sweat as he read the dangers well, and his positioning was fantastic. The fact that he stands in at 6ft5inches makes him a strong candidate in the air, and his on the ball abilities make him a perfect centre back option for Lennon.
Why should Lennon extend Bitton’s stay?
The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries in the last few years, and he has finally managed to show his worth in this team. Bitton is currently in the final year of his contract, and we think that he should be given a new deal soon based on his recent performances.
His versatility to play in midfield and at the back makes him a massive asset for Lennon. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him start in midfield in a few games time to give Scott Brown a breather once in a while in a long season. Bitton started just three games in the Premiership last season, and it seemed like he would see out his contract and become a free agent by 2020. However, after the injury issue, Bitton has managed to re-define himself, and there is a solid case for him to extend his stint at Parkhead.
