Chris Sutton reckons that Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is destined to leave Celtic for a Premier League side, but not for some time as he still has plenty of unfinished business at Celtic.
It’s hard to argue that Ange hasn’t made a terrific impact during his time at Celtic. He has applied his mantra, “we never stop’, to the Celtic players and it really shows through their playing style, especially in Europe, although he never quite achieved the desired results. He has transformed the Celtic squad into a winning machine, which is why Sutton believes many clubs around the world have their eye on Ange.
Sutton makes it clear that he believes Ange won’t be departing Celtic any time soon, as he still has unfinished business at Celtic, especially on the European stage after the performances in the Champions League earlier this season.
Writing in his column on the DailyRecord, Sutton outlined his thoughts on the Celtic manager’s longer term future. “The link with Everton was fairly low-key this time but Postecoglou’s name will have been considered. Whether he would have been interested is a different matter. I just don’t see Postecoglou as the kind of guy to walk away at this stage of the season. I’m basing that on the way he gets the club, what he says in the media and the job he is currently doing at Celtic.”
“But do I think he’ll be around for the long term? It depends how you define long term. Can I see him still being here in five years? I’m not so sure. There is usually a pattern with Celtic managers, even successful ones, where the Champions League becomes a priority and sometimes there’s a glass ceiling. I don’t think he’ll be going any time soon though.”
“I don’t believe he’d go during this season and while nothing is impossible I seriously doubt he’d go in the summer. Postecoglou will feel he has unfinished business at Celtic, particularly in Europe. There were promising signs in the Champions League this season but results were disappointing. There will be a lingering sense of frustration the team were not able to bloody a few noses in terms of achieving victories, rather than just good spells within games.”
“You’d think he would like another crack at it next term. It’s a huge challenge but the significance of competing at that level is not lost on him. Look at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola looks pretty happy but you don’t know what could happen and that opportunity will be available one day. I’m not saying Postecoglou is the next Man City manager but he has worked with City Football Group at Melbourne and Yokohama.”
“They know all about him and a lot of other clubs now do as well. We’ve seen the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in England have tough times. High-profile manager with glittering playing careers, but for whatever reasons it didn’t work out for them. These guys could be described as inexperienced as bosses but that’s not something you can label at Postecoglou.”
“People’s eyes are open to not just what he’s done at Celtic but what he’s achieved over his 25-year coaching career. He’s won titles everywhere he’s been and it’s not a case of would clubs in England look at him – it’s why wouldn’t they? Postecoglou will move down south one day and it will be whether or not it aligns with his thinking.
“A lot will depend on performances in Europe next season. Suitors down south and across the Continent couldn’t fail to take notice of the improvement he’s made at Celtic, his style of play and the fact he’s turned the side into a winning machine,” Sutton stated.
