Ange Postecoglou has made his feelings clear from the minute he walked through the door, if players want to play for Celtic, he is there for them. If they see their future’s elsewhere then it’s best for all parties if that wish is accommodated.
Celtic isn’t the club for those who are not invested in, or appreciative of what is on offer.
Yesterday the news broke that Ben Doak was likely to head south to join Liverpool, and when asked for his thoughts on the matter, the message relayed by the Celtic manager was as consistent for Doak as it was for the stars of the changing room in the summer – Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer and Ryan Christie – if you don’t realise or appreciate what you have at Celtic, and instead think your career is best served by moving elsewhere, then you can go with our best wishes.
“I’ve said all along my role is to look after the footballers that want to be here. The footballers that don’t want to be here? There’s another avenue there for them. When you look at the starting line-up against Dundee United there were a few boys who started out as ball boys for our club.
“You can’t tell me they haven’t had careers – they’ve represented their country, they’ve won trophies. There are a couple down south who started here too. People may think going down south is a reward or some guarantee of success.
“Life – and football in general – shows you there are many avenues towards that goal. I think you’re in a great place here if that’s what your end game is.”
Ange Postecoglou has undertaken one of the toughest rebuilding jobs of any Celtic manager this century. He’s done so by employing talented footballers who can fit his system, but he has also clearly done his homework on the personalities of the players. Almost to a man every signing Postecoglou has made, and every player – bar a few proving tough to shift – he has retained, have bought into his ethos and have shown they like their place of work to boot.
When the manager talks of his feelings on Ben Doak’s impending move to Liverpool he is not simply conveying his thoughts on Doak’s decision, he is also highlighting that every player signed, and every player retained, will be at Celtic because they want to be there and because the Celtic manager sees them as part of his plans. For all others, however talented, there is simply no room at the Inn, and that’s the way it has to be.
Celtic may not be able to offer the riches on offer elsewhere, however bar the boost to the bank balance, Celtic can offer everything a footballer requires.
If you want a chance to show your medals to future generations, to be a living legend at a club who celebrate their history and their heroes like few others do, then Celtic and Ange Postecoglou’s rebuilding job is the perfect place for any aspiring footballer.
If there is however any doubt in your mind, Ange Postecoglou has made it clear, he’d much rather that footballer chose a different path. And whether you are starting out on your footballing journey like Ben Doak, or whether your career is perhaps winding down, Celtic isn’t the club for those who are not invested in, or appreciative of what is offered at Celtic. That something that money simply won’t buy you, but instead will still pay out long after the boots have been hung up.
Niall J
