John Kennedy on Gavin Strachan, Harry Kewell, Stevie Woods and Celtic’s Defensive Rigidity

Something that is often lost when covering this current Celtic team that Ange Postecoglou has assembled in such a short space of time, is the defensive solidity that has accompanied the wonderful, freeflowing, swashbuckling, attacking style of play that the big man has brought to the table.

Last year we had the best defensive record in the county, yet swathes of the media continued to berate and belittle Carl Starfelt and Joe Hart – both of whom were assertive and consistent throughout the entire season. This season, and since the beginning of the New Year especially, we have looked formidable at the back and that has served as the foundation for our magnificent run of form since the 2 January at Ibrox.

Assistant manager, John Kennedy has been speaking to the media about this really strong defensive structure we have and how it has dovetailed nicely with the very tenets of the way we play under Ange Postecoglou. “I’ve been here too long to accept any praise,” Kennedy said, via The Herald. “I know what happens next week if we lose a goal or a game! I think sometimes because of the position you played, people relate that area of the game to you. But the focus is very much on improving individuals but also on all areas of the team.

“My job is to support the manager but a large part of the job I do is on the training pitch, doing analysis, working with the players on a daily basis, along with Gavin (Strachan), Harry (Kewell) and Stevie Woods. We’ve got a very strong staff here who all have a real focus on developing the players. The first team is always about results, but we have players here who are continually working to improve themselves. I’ve worked in academies where that is the primary focus, and the first team has only been about results. But here’s it’s also about developing the players alongside that.”

Working with the backroom team at Lennoxtown to help instil and improve the characteristics of Angeball and the defensive principles that are attached to the offensive side of the game, is a fundamental part of Kennedy’s day-to-day schedule. He said: “It’s part of the function of the team. I get much more excited when the play is at the other end and the team is scoring goals. But a large part of how we play is how we defend as a team. We meet teams head on at the top end of the pitch.

“That has been key to not conceding or giving up many chances. It’s the attitude they show. It’s very easy to kind of take it easy at times, think, ‘I’ll not make that run, or press as hard as I have been’, and before you know it you are defending your box. The guys have kept the foot down in that respect and maintained the intensity. We always start with a real intent to press because it leads to a lot of our attacking success. It’s about the whole team and not just the defenders. But at the same time, the guys at the back have done a terrific job – just as well as the attacking players who score the goals.”

The former Hoops defender admitted that having a strong defensive structure and partnership at the centre of this Celtic side is a key factor in our success of late. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have been sensational since paired together and have given the Bhoys’ creative players the freedom at times to express themselves without worrying about their backline. “It’s good to have two strong characters like Cameron and Carl,” he said. “They have been key to the stability at the back.”

He added: “They’ve played a lot together and you can see the relationship blossoming. It will get even better in time. Alongside that we have Yuki (Kobayashi), who has looked good since he has come in, and Stephen Welsh has also contributed a lot as well. The squad is in a good place defensively. There’s been some rotation and changes at times, but everyone has come in and contributed. The manager has instilled in the team the fact it doesn’t matter if you play 10 minutes or 90 minutes, you have to contribute to the team.”

Paul Gillespie