Ange Postecoglou was the first to admit Kyogo’s goals in yesterday’s 2-1 Scottish League Cup win were vital when it came to Celtic lifting the first silverware of the season, but as reported on Celtic’s official website the Celtic boss made sure the Bhoys at the back also got the praise their performances merited.
Celtic were exceptional in the first 45 minutes in particular, persistently playing through theRangers high press and manoeuvring themselves forward to create plenty of chances, before Kyogo opened the scoring from a superb Greg Taylor cross.
And after the Japanese frontman put Celtic two goals to the good in the second half – and how well was that goal worked by the way? – it was inevitable theRangers would have their spells of pressure. From there, it was going to be how the Celtic defence coped with that pressure. And they didn’t let anyone down.
Morelos scored a scrappy goal to give theRangers team some much needed oxygen, after chasing Celtic tails for so long, but they weren’t allowed to pass again, as Celtic’s back five held firm, with Postecoglou ensuring his defence got the credit they deserved for a superb display.
“I thought Carl and Cam were outstanding, but they have been for a very long time with us,” the Celtic manager said. “They’ve got a really difficult role. People don’t understand. They see us dominate games and think they’ve got an easy job but sometimes they’ve got the hardest job because we’ll leave them defending one-on-one.
“You see most other team and defenders will have the luxury of having cover or an extra player, but they’ve got to defend one-on-one every week against opponents.
“We knew today that there would be moments in the game when they would have to defend strongly and I thought they did that. They’re both real defenders – they love the art of defending and they’re not just about when we have the ball. They don’t shirk the physical side of it and they’re brave.
“I thought Alistair Johnston was brilliant defensively today as well, and even Greg – the amount of headers he wins for a guy his size. But it’s the fact that the lads won’t just settle for us being a team that just plays one way. Whatever needs to be done, particularly on days like today, they’ll do what needs to be done to win a game of football.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers is arguably the best defender the club has purchased since Virgil van Dijk. And much like the former Celtic centre half had with Jason Denayer, his partnership at the heart of the defence with Carl Starfelt is an outstanding pairing.
Meanwhile Greg Taylor has to be in any conversation when it comes to player of the year nominations this season, and Alistair Johnston may be a new kid on the block since arriving from Montreal, but the biggest compliment you can give the Canadian international is that he already looks like he’s been at the club for several years.
Celtic have needed someone for a while now who can pop Ryan Kent into their back pocket in Glasgow Derby fixtures and Johnston did just that yesterday, with a real cup final performance and as part of a defensive unit which perhaps doesn’t get the same levels of praise the attacking players understandably attract.
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And whilst it could be construed as unfair to single any defender for praise I’m going to do so anyway. Carl Starfelt arguably had his best ever game in a Celtic shirt. Of course, there was the customary minor wobble late in the game at Hampden, but prior to that the Swedish Centre half had been imperious and no-one in Scottish football defends the 18-yard box as well as Starfelt does.
Celtic’s attacking options are incredible in both numbers and in quality, but Ange’s case for his defence is good to see. Because without the likes of Carl Starfelt producing outstanding defensive performances like we saw at Hampden yesterday, the likes of Kyogo and Reo Hatate would not have the foundations from which they can take the necessary risks with the ball to create the chances and score the goals.
Last season’s League Cup win over Hibs was very much the Kyogo final, meanwhile Carl Starfelt arguably had one to forget. This time Kyogo will no doubt get the headlines once again; however, Carl Starfelt’s performance was every bit as crucial to Celtic’s lifting of the Scottish League Cup, and it’s great to hear Ange Postecoglou ensure his defence gets the credit it fully deserves.
Niall J
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