Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has conveyed the belief that this current Ange Postecoglou Celfic side are as good as we’ve seen in many a year. Ahead of facing the Scottish Premiership Champions at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon in Glasgow, the former Ross County boss was full of praise for the Champions-elect this year, despite his desire to cause an upset.
The Steelmen parted company with Stevie Hammill not that long ago and Kettlewell has been drafted in to stop the rot and ensure the cinch Premiership club’s safety. With all the chatter about which team is better, comparing the Hoops teams of old with the current incumbents, the Fir Park gaffer reckons they are as good as anything that we have witnessed throughout the years in Scotland.
Speaking to Daily Record he said: “I think this is one of the best sides the Scottish Premiership has seen for several years. I’m a massive Scottish football fan, I have been my entire life, and I think you would pitch this team up there with many other excellent sides.
“We look at Celtic and Rangers sides that have got to European finals, and I would pitch this side right up there with those. It’s one thing to be a good side but it’s another to continually do that throughout 90 minutes, and the full course of a season and cup competitions as well. That then becomes a huge challenge for the teams that have to face Celtic. What my job is, is to make sure that our players respond to that and they’re well equipped to face it.”
Despite his burning desire to get something from the game for his club and supporters, Kettlewell acknowledged the sheer folly of not commending the Hoops on the insane levels of quality infused with consistency they have shown this campaign.
“Of course they’re favourites to win, I don’t think there’s any doubt on that”, he stated. “What I have to do is pay massive compliment to the work they do, the consistency levels that they have. The energy levels can drop out, that intensity to score goals maybe isn’t quite there if you’re ahead in the game.
“I see a Celtic team that when they score one they want two, when they get two they want three. You look at the style of play, the application of players, 
In all those aspects, I think it proves and it shows over the course of two seasons since Ange Postecoglou has been in charge at Celtic that it’s such a difficult task. For me it’s the most difficult fixture that you’re going to face in the division,” he said, “but what I do also look at is that we never go into any game thinking we’re going to be second-best, we never think we can’t get anything out of it.”
The Lanarkshire outfit’s head coach added that although they are odds against to win or even take something from Saturday’s contest, the mantra is to learn from the quality of opposition and take it as a learning opportunity.
He said: “That mind-set has never changed throughout my career, that’s going to be the message to the players. But I think it’s having a realisation of what they game is going to look like and making sure you acquit yourself well within that. I also look at it as a learning curve.
He continued: “I always think when you come up against top players and managers that you have to make sure you take something out of the game, so the next time you face them or those types of challenges, you’re a better version of yourself. I love and relish that challenge where you play against internationalists that are worth millions of pounds or touted for moves down south to big clubs. That can only help us all evolve and improve.”
Paul Gillespie
