LIEL ABADA knows how tight the margins can be when competing at the highest level. And if the Celtic winger had had any doubts, his side’s Champions League campaign all but erased it.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have one point from their first two group stage matches this season, but there will be frustration at not having more points on the board. The Premiership champions couldn’t capitalize on an impressive first half at home to Real Madrid in their European curtain-raiser before the Spaniards’ quality showed in the second, while only a devastating counter-attack of Mykhaylo Mudryk denied the Scots the three-pointer of Shakhtar Donetsk.
As Celtic prepare for a double-header with RB Leipzig, Abada retains an unwavering determination to prove himself on the biggest stage European football has to offer. The inside striker boasts a remarkable goalscoring record – the wide player scores around one in three games – but is yet to score his first Champions League goal.
He had a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring against Real on Matchday 1 but extended his effort after being sent down in the first half at Parkhead. However, the Israeli internationalist won’t dwell on past mistakes when Celtic take on Leipzig in Germany on Wednesday night.
He explained: “We have to keep playing our football, but in the last two Champions League games we’ve missed a lot of chances, so we have to focus 100 per cent because in the Champions League, if you don’t not score, it costs you that level because the other team will score.
“We have to be focused to score goals.
“It was a good chance but I don’t think about it too much because it was against Real Madrid and sometimes in football you score and sometimes you miss. Hopefully next time I score.”
Abada’s remarkable goalscoring record would seem anachronistic in many other periods, but in this era when Cristiano Ronaldo, Mo Salah and Neymar provide a heap of goals year after year, wide players with envious goals are becoming more and more currency. current.
The striker – who turns 21 tomorrow – has set foot on the training ground to become a complete threat in the final third, and says he was inspired by some of the sport’s biggest stars during development of his own game.
“My whole career I played winger but I really work on it in training and also after training,” he said.
“I stay on the pitch and I work on finishing and crosses.
“I really want to help the team earn points every game and I hope to continue to score for Celtic and help my friends in the team.
“I watch these players and learn from them because they are the best players in the world.
“It’s very good to watch them to hopefully help me score more goals and provide more assists to do my best for Celtic.”
Like so many Postecoglou signings, Abada wasted no time adjusting to his new surroundings when he first arrived in Glasgow in the summer of 2021, having accepted a transfer from Maccabi Petah Tikva.
His compatriot Nir Bitton – who left Celtic during the tight season, ending a nine-year spell at the club – was an important figure in those early months as Abada left his homeland and settled in the life in Scotland, as a winger. Explain.
“I’m from Israel and it’s very difficult to be alone when you’re so young, but from the first time I came to Celtic, all the coaches and players gave me the confidence I needed. “, did he declare.
“Nir also helped me a lot in the beginning, he always took care of me. I’m really happy to be here and I hope it stays that way.
“Nir helped me because when I arrived at Celtic I didn’t speak English and it was very difficult with the language and he helped me with everything I needed and always took care of me.
“He made sure I felt good and had everything I needed and that really helped me.”