Liel Abada might not have his big pal Nir Bitton around to help with his washing any more but his future might not be as cut and dried as some Celtic fans fear.
The Hoops wideman was sad to see his old teammate leave last summer and he’s been tipped to follow him to exit at the end of this season, with several clubs in England in a spin over the talented 21-year-old. Ababa has come a long way in a short time in Scotland after arriving as a kid in a big money move from Maccabi Petah Tikva and it would take serous dosh to prise him away from Parkhead.
The wide man picked up the PFA Scotland young player fo the year award on the back of a sensational debut season and he’s back in the running for the same gong this term, despite much of the second half of his campaign spent on the bench or the treatment table. Abada admitted he relied on Bitton in his first year and joked his big brother figure sorted out his dinners and even his laundry.
But he’s learned to stand on his own two feet and he now feels right at home in Glasgow. He said: “When I came to Scotland I was 19 years-old. It was very different for me, a different country with no family around me and sometimes it was difficult.
“I was alone here without my girlfriend or anyone else. I had Niro here with me at Celtic and he really looked after me.
“There are also a lot of Israeli people in Glasgow who helped me and made me feel good here and happy here. I now feel my language is better. It was difficult when Niro left Celtic because he was the one in the dressing room I had the best relationship with.
“After he left it was a little bit sad for me but also it helped me speak with the other boys and work on my English with the staff. It made me do other things that I didn’t do before because Niro looked after me. But I feel good. I don’t have Niro of his family helping me like they did before but I’m okay. My girlfriend is here with me now and that helps.”
Abada is still tight with Bitton and while the former club stalwart doesn’t do his washing any more, he still helps him iron out any issues. The winger said: “I still speak with Niro a lot. He watches all of the Celtic games because Celtic is in his heart. He was here for nine years and it’s not easy to leave after that length of time.
“We speak a lot and sometimes he tells me what to do and what not to do - he thinks he’s the coach! But my relationship with Niro is still very good. I really love him.
“Like I say, I also have Israeli people in Glasgow who help me. Some of them are family from my dad’s side. If I need anything I just need to call them and they help.”
Abada might be privately asking Bitton and his new pals advice over his future, with plenty of speculation about his next steps in the game. But the Israel international doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to up sticks and he said: “Right now I’m Celtic.
“I don’t really care about any of the things being said about my future – I just care about giving 100 percent in training and in games. I am happy here and that’s the most important thing.
“We have won the league and we have the next target to win the Scottish Cup to complete the treble. That is our focus to complete our target. For me, right now I am Celtic and I don’t care about the summer or anything else.”
Abada’s immediate focus is getting back in the side. He’s had to settle for an impact sub role at times this term and then spent a spell on the sidelines with an injury. He’s still been a key man for Celtic this season with huge goals in big games and he’s out for another at Ibrox this weekend.
Abada would love to be the first name on the team sheet but he knows the deal at Parkhead. He said: “Yeah, when you play at a club like Celtic there are a lot of great players. There is a lot of competition and a lot of fight around the place to play. For me, I just give 100 percent at every training session.
“As a squad we work hard every day because everyone wants to play. In the end it’s the coach’s decision. Every player works hard at every club but you have to fight for your place at Celtic.
“You want to do the best for the team. The standard if very high in the training sessions because it’s top players. You can then do extra with the staff to work in more things. It’s helped me a lot to improve.”
Abada believes he’s kicked on again this term thanks to overtime with coach Harry Kewell. The former Liverpool Champions League winner has been preparing the wide man for the big European stage next season and the youngster said: “I work with him a lot and it’s a big help.
“We do extra sessions after training and we look at what we need to improve on and do better. He looks after us and it’s very important.
“I think quicker now. In the Champions League you don’t get too much time on the ball so you have to think very fast. I think I have improved that side of my game.
"I work on that in training and it’s helped me a lot. The staff and manager has helped me improve on that and get better.”
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