Nir Bitton: Celtic remain fully focused on extending record run
Nir Bitton insists there will be no let-up in Celtic's quest to extend their unbeaten domestic run.
The Hoops have not lost to a Scottish club in 69 matches ahead of their trip to play Hearts in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Bitton stressed that the focus at Celtic remains as strong as it was when they beat their own 100-year-old British record of 62 unbeaten domestic games with a 4-0 win at St Johnstone in November.
The 26-year-old, who has been moved from midfield to centre-back by boss Brendan Rodgers, said: Once we broke the record we had another target which was to stretch it as much as we can to make this record harder to beat.
`We want to play the best football we can.
`It's a long season and we just need to be focused and look at the next game.
`We need to do the same things that we have being doing. There's nothing to change.
`We'll concentrate on staying focused for 100 per cent for every game and do what the gaffer wants us to do and I think everything will be fine.'
In what will be the fifth of nine games in December, Bitton is looking forward to returning to the stadium where Celtic clinched the title last season.
The Israel international said: `We've had a few good games there over the last few years.
`It's always a good game at Tynecastle and a good atmosphere.
`Every game we play in the Premiership or in Europe we want to get the best result we can and it will be the same on Sunday.
`As a footballer, you'd rather be playing games than just training.
We have a busy schedule but we are all ready for it and looking forward to the next game.
`We have the manager and coaching staff to prepare us for every game and make sure we're fresh.''
The champions will travel with the confidence of a side who have scored in every game across their domestic unbeaten run although Rodgers is still demanding improvement.
`It shows you the ambition of the team,'' he said. Our identity as a team is to defend well first of all.
`I think we can still do better on that front, even though we've conceded fewer goals at this point of the season than we did last season.
`We have a lot goal threats in the team and that was something which was pretty clear we needed to improve on when we came in, and the players have taken that mantle on.
`They never leave the game early so, no matter what that scoreline is, they're always going to be there for the duration of the game and that's something we're proud of.'