Source: Team_Talk
Kayal extends Celtic contract
Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal has signed an extended contract that ties him to the Scottish Premier League club until the summer of 2015.[LNB] Kayal has been in negotiations with the club for a number of months after looking to improve his terms following an impressive debut season.[LNB]The Israel midfielder was linked with moves to the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool after his return from a hernia operation on Boxing Day last year heralded Celtic's best spell of the season.[LNB]But he fractured his wrist in the 3-2 defeat by Inverness that ultimately cost Celtic the SPL title in May and missed the Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell.[LNB]He has struggled to regain that form this term, like many in Neil Lennon's team, but he feels a run of fitness will help him do so, especially now the distraction of contract talks are out of the way.[LNB]Kayal said: "I'm very happy to have signed a new contract. I just want to work hard and focus on my football.[LNB]"I want to stay here a lot of years. When I came here I was happy to sign for a big club, now I'm very, very happy.[LNB]"There were a lot of rumours last summer but I'm happy to stay here.[LNB]"I never said I wanted to leave. I like the club and the people and the fans are important. They give me energy to give everything.[LNB]"The manager wanted me here. There were a lot of rumours but I never thought for one moment about leaving the club."[LNB]Kayal insisted he knew nothing about any concrete interest in his services.[LNB]"I don't know anything about that, it was just rumours," he said."[LNB]Celtic moved towards giving Kayal a wage rise to reflect his importance to the team and head off any possibility of the player leaving.[LNB]"The gaffer, the people in the club, spoke to me in April and May," he said.[LNB]"I said before the season was finished that I wanted to stay and sign a new contract.[LNB]"It took a long time because there were a lot of breaks for international football, I was injured two or three times, I broke my nose, and the deal took a long time.[LNB]"But I'm very happy now that the deal is done and I can just focus on football.[LNB]"It's very important for me to clear my mind and just focus on football because when I go outside the club people ask me about the contract.[LNB]"Everyone saw the rumours and people ask me whether I'm leaving or not.[LNB]"I always just want to concentrate on football and enjoy my job and I want to do that now. It's better for me to do that when I'm happy and can just focus on my job.[LNB]"I feel myself and I know what I can do when I play. At the moment I don't play the same every game.[LNB]"But I have had a lot of injuries, I feel unlucky. I went to the national team twice and came back injured and broke my nose in Australia, and broke my wrist before the end of last season.[LNB]"It's not easy. Sometimes I go down but I'm strong and I want to come back and play for the club and the manager.[LNB]"The manager always believes in my talent."[LNB]Celtic face Rennes in the Europa League in France on Thursday looking for a much-needed win, having only tasted victory in four of their last 12 games.[LNB]Kayal is looking to put his disappointing weekend behind him - he was substituted at half-time with Celtic three goals down at Kilmarnock after risking a second yellow card in a flashpoint late in the half.[LNB]"I felt angry in the game and took a yellow card," the 23-year-old said.[LNB]"The gaffer thought about the team and changed me. I was very happy because the team came back and everyone did their job well.[LNB]"The most important thing is to think about the next game and to win.[LNB]"There are a lot of games to go but we must start winning games and just focus on the next one."
