After their recent 3-0 win over Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side in the dead rubber fixture after the Australian had won his second successive title while in Scotland, the Rangers fans were given tremendous encouragement by that result, and indeed the performance as Michael Beale got the better of Postecoglou for the first time in five matches.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – APRIL 30: Michael Beale, Manager of Rangers, reacts during the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Frustratingly for the more perceptive among the Ibrox fan base this came after three defeats and one draw (in a match Beale simply had to win) and those results meant that the Rangers failed to catch Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and were eliminated from the League Cup in the final in February and the Scottish Cup, in the semi-final in April and of course Postecoglou got his hand on both those trophies to add to his triumph in the Scottish Premiership to complete a treble before heading to London to take the Tottenham Hotspur job.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Celtic lifts the Scottish Cup trophy after the team’s victory during the Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park on June 03, 2023 (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Amid the speculation around that move, the Rangers support seemed enthusiastic for it to happen. When you look at Postecoglou’s success in winning five of six domestic trophies he competed for over the past two seasons, you can see the logic in them wishing to see the back of a very talented football manager. And when the hugely popular Aussie broke Celtic hearts by confirming that he was indeed leaving the club, there was real joy in the blue corner of the city as they celebrated like they’d had a big win at best online casino real money site going.
The old saying Be careful what you wish for looks like being particularly relevant to the managerial merry-go-round over in the East End of Glasgow in regard to the Rangers support hoping Celtic lost Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham. That happened, so they should be happy, but unfortunately for them, Celtic succeeded in bringing Brendan Rodgers back to the club. As part of the deal, Billionaire Celtic power-broker Dermot Desmond has agreed to bankroll his fellow Irishman to improve the Treble-winning squad to impact the Champions League.
Dermot Desmond is seen prior to the Celtic vs St Mirren Cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on May 20, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Postecoglou’s legacy at Celtic is the young, talented and successful squad he built in his two years at the club, together with an exciting brand of attacking football. Yet Rodgers will now be backed to strengthen the squad further, and his brand of football fused with elements of Postecoglou’s style of plan might be even harder for Michael Beale to compete with next season.
This was discussed on The Celtic Star earlier and in the comments section, Niall J of this parish added some context to Brendan Rodgers’ record against theRangers that should worry those very same supporters so keen to see Postecoglou leave Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers record in Glasgow derbies:
Home – W3 D2 L0 GF12 GA2
Away – W4 D0 L1 GF12 GA5
Neutral – W3 D0 L0 GF7 GA0Win Percentage – Brendan Rodgers Most Successful In This Fixture For Celtic. (Minimum 10 Games)
League – 70% (2nd Highest On Both Sides)
All Comps – 77% (1st On Both Sides)Overall record:
League Wins – 7/10
Cup Wins – 3/3
All Comps – 10/13
Goals For – 31
Goals Against – 7
Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic Park on Friday. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Be careful what you wish for.