Ange Postecoglou yesterday insisted that Giorgos Giakoumakis doesn’t need any sympathy after his costly stoppage-time penalty miss against Livingston on Saturday as the Celtic manager reckons that the Greek striker’s day will come.
Speaking at yesterday’s Mainstream media conference ahead of the flight to Budapest for this evening’s Europa League match against Ferencvaros, the Celtic manager stated that there’s no need for him to re-assure the £2.5m summer signing from Dutch club VVV Venlo.
“He’s a striker. Last year he was top scorer in the Dutch First Division and scored nine out of 10 penalties,” Ange stated, having earlier taken responsibility for selecting Giakoumakis as the penalty taker ahead of Croatian international defender Josip Juranovic, who had previously scored 2 from 2 spot kicks, including of course in the away Europa League match against Real Betis in Seville.
That makes you wonder who will step up to take the spot kick if Celtic are awarded a penalty kick this evening in the Groupama Arena. Surely Juranovic has been given the nod this time?
“I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t want to grab the ball to score a last-minute winner at Celtic Park,” Ange said yesterday, looking back on the dramatic and ultimately costly end to frustrating afternoon in Paradise on Saturday.
“I’m not here to protect players and hide them. If you come here to Celtic as a No.9 and a central striker you want the opportunity to win games of football.
“That’s how you make a career for yourself, so I don’t have to put my arm around Giakoumakis or tell him anything or try and protect him. This is a big club with expectations and that’s why he’s here.
“The best in the world miss them and the best in the world get up and take them again. It’s part of football and Giorgos understands that.
“He wanted to come to this big club because he knows the next time he gets that opportunity to score a winner in front of 60,000, it will be a memorable moment for him and I’ll be happy if he steps up again.
“That’s where he is at.” So maybe Giakoumakis will be on the pens after all. Listen to Ange talking about Giakoumakis below…
