Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic are a game at a time team, as the manager reiterated at full time yesterday. While the boss insisted his players should be allowed to enjoy the moment after winning the Viaplay Cup, he assured viewers that his next focus will be on the weekend’s SPFL clash with St Mirren rather than turning his thoughts to the title, future Derby games or the Scottish Cup.
It’s that approach that has seen Celtic be so relentless in domestic football over the last 18 months, and particularly this season. However, supporters have the luxury of thinking further ahead.
Many Celtic fans are now eyeing a treble, with most feeling the league title is already wrapped up. In that sense, just three Scottish Cup matches stand in their way. If Ange and his player can achieve the feat, it would mark the club’s fifth treble in seven seasons!
Such domestic dominance has been well established for some time and while it is phenomenal to clean up all before them so consistently, the next challenge must be European improvement.
Celtic have shown they’re unquestionably the best team in Scotland and rack up four or five goals against teams on a regular basis. Therefore, many feel it’s time to push for the next level.
The Hoops have not won a knockout stage tie in Europe since Alan Thompson rattled one into the net to eliminate the mighty Barcelona in 2004. That needs to change. Due to financial disparity, of a similar level to that between ourselves and the rest of Scottish football, the latter stages of the Champions League are likely out of reach. But, there’s no reason why the Bhoys couldn’t push to secure a third place finish in the group stage and then embark on a run in the Europa League.
We have seen teams on smaller budgets go deep into the competition in Europe’s second tier tournament. The quality is still high, the matches are more exciting and prestigious in the European arena and it’s where a club with our support belongs.
In Ange we have a manager who could take us there. And who knows, he may even be targeting a last 16 spot if and when the Champions League campaign rolls around.
Either way, the Celtic fans are more ambitious than they have been at any time since Gordon Strachan left the club, due to the man we have at the helm. Our eyes are firmly on wrapping up the treble and then making a mark in Europe. Those have to be the next two steps for the club to progress in the short term.
DON’T MISS…Sandman’s Definitive Rating – Celtic v That Other Mob
You’ve read my mind, Liam. Yesterday was a very good day, and you are right to say “One game at a time”. I loved Ange’s comment about how important St Mirren next Sunday now is!
At the same time, we do really crave a good run in Europe.
On a very practical level, the difference between Europe and Scotland is basically that you don’t get away with making mistakes – and this is something we can do! Eliminate careless clearances, pass accurately, no more free kicks conceded on the edge of the box, no getting booked for silly things like Abada and Oh did yesterday, and put away all chances. I am not going to believe we can’t do all of these things – and if we do, the sky is the limit! In 1966, they told us that Celtic could never win the European Cup. Oh, no? I repeat, the sky is the limit with this group of players. Believe!