Ange Postecoglou spoke to Celtic TV after yesterday’s 4-0 win over our nearest title challengers yesterday afternoon that means that his side is now five points clear at the top of the league, looking down on theRangers…
CELTIC TV: Ange your reaction to this afternoon’s match?
Ange Postecoglou: “I’m really proud of the players. I know I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but it was an enormous effort today. We knew what was at stake. It was a big game and everybody was suggesting that it was our first real test, even though I thought we’ve had some tests already. But the boys showed that in such a big game, they’re able to perform at the highest possible level.”
CELTIC TV: You spend all week planning and in the first minute you lose the talisman at the minute, Kyogo. Did your heart skip a beat or were you always confident that everyone knows their job here?
Ange Postecoglou: “I don’t like seeing players get injured and Kyogo’s been outstanding this year. It was disappointing to lose him so early in the game, but that’s the reason we’ve done the business we have. We didn’t have to change the team much in the first four or five games, but I know, with games coming thick and fast, that we’re going to need people. And that’s why I was pleased with Wednesday night’s performance – everyone who played stood up and played well, so if we have to make a change, and I knew, in putting Giako on, that it would still cause them problems.”
CELTIC TV: There will always be tough decisions to make with a strong squad. You went with Liel Abada today and you have been rewarded.
Ange Postecoglou: “Well that’s not exactly a pat on the back for me. I could have gone with Daizen and been rewarded as well. That’s the easy part of the job, we’ve got some outstanding players who, depending on the day, can do a job for us. But Liel was great today, he’s an outstanding young man. From the moment he arrived, he hit the ground running. The fact that he gets the amount of goals he does as a winger, for such a young player is outstanding but what I do know is that he will come in tomorrow and get feedback and want to be better than he was today.”
CELTIC TV: Rightly the attention will go on the forward players and the goals scored but how pleased were you with the discipline at the back and the number of chances they restricted the opponents to today?
Ange Postecoglou: “I thought our defensive work was outstanding through the whole team. If there was one thing which was a stand-out today, it was our press, our ability to close them down and not give them time in any part of the field, including when they got into our box, was outstanding today. They’re a good team and they proved they’re a good team because they’ve beaten some very good teams, so we knew that we had to be on it today and that’s the one area I was really pleased about. We’re a good football team, but we’re a hell of a pressing team, as well.”
CELTIC TV: Speaking of good teams, it’s Real Madrid next, is it excitement more than anything else?
Ange Postecoglou: “Yeah, they are a good team, that’s a bit of an understatement. It’s why you want to be at this football club. You want to be part of these big occasions and big nights – and it’s another great challenge for us. You want to measure and test yourself against the best and that’s what we’re going to do. They’re the best and we’ll test ourselves.”
And Ange Postecoglou wasn’t the only football manager delighted with the result in the Glasgow Derby…
💬 “It’s a great day when we win away from home & @CelticFC beat Rangers!” 😂
Boss Steve Evans talks us through today’s win on the road. 👇
— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) September 3, 2022
Some supporter reaction to Ange Postecoglou’s post-match interview…
“I just can’t believe how lucky we are to have this man as our manager,” CK….”Better than average that’s for sure. Ange the over achiever…yet understated, classic Aussie,” Julian Moerman… “Remember this isn’t a Rangers team in disarray like the team Rodgers team destroyed. This is a team who just got to a European final so the way we’ve gubbed them twice now in one half in the same year is some achievement! We’re a machine,” MK 67.
“Beautiful Football Ange! We’re all so very proud over here in Australia. 1:17am and buzzing,” Ode Petrichor….”Usually really nervous before big games with previous Celtic teams and managers.. But under Ange, I’m far more confident. He’s some man!” Stiofán Ó Firghil…”Hands down my favourite Celtic Manager ever! We believe in big Ange,” Jake Hunt…”Ange is irreplaceable I’d worry more losing him than any player at our club,” John Queen.
Being asked how many times I’ve watched Jota’s goal from yesterday. pic.twitter.com/wl5iT1J7DC
— Celtic Wiki (@TheCelticWiki) September 4, 2022
Jota watching his goal back on the big screen is the content you need this morning 😍 pic.twitter.com/jAQT9NWlY4
— JVB (@JVBurgoyne) September 4, 2022
Switch off RSC pic.twitter.com/qzuQTv2THT
— Lost in the Half-space (@WuAnalysis) September 4, 2022
VIDEO | Ultras Celtic: Bella Ciao!
(Celtic vs Rangers) #GreenBrigade pic.twitter.com/d54itqUfRP
— Antifa_Ultras (@ultras_antifaa) September 4, 2022
