Celtic players will be in their beds at the moment back at the club’s hotel in Sydney with their ears ringing after hearing Ange Postecoglou’s take on their performances in the 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC in the first of two fixtures that Celtic will play in the Sydney Super Cup.
Ange spoke to Celtic TV then the media after the match, so let’s start by listening to his interview with the club’s own channel Celtic TV:
And as is usually the case Ange was a little more forthright at the post-match media conference. “It was a very good game and there was a lot of goalmouth action,” The Celtic manager said, “but we were nowhere near it today – we were well off it. We didn’t start the game well and credit Sydney I thought they were good and they were sharp and started the game better.
“In the second half we improved a little bit – but we were nowhere near the levels we needed to be and Sydney deserved to win. It is always a disappointment irrespective of any loss.
“We set a standard and expectations and levels and if we fall below that then it is disappointing irrespective of the circumstances or what the environment is or what the competition is.”
Perhaps that could be explained by taking into account the long journey to Australia and the subsequent jet-lag, Ange was asked. “No mate. I am not a violin player. We get on with it. They probably are tired. So what? The game was today it is not tomorrow.
“That’s the way it is and we were not anywhere near the levels we needed to be at. But that is part of the learning process for everyone. I understand it is not easy and it is a long trip and you are getting off there and in any game of football there is always excuses if you want them. We have chosen not to do that in the past and that is what we’ll do today.
“I don’t think anyone can say tonight that they put their best foot forward whether they have been playing or not. For everyone it is not a night where you played anywhere near the level that you needed to.
“I’m not here on a holiday. I am here representing our football club and that’s where my focus is. I am not going to be getting a boat round the harbour tomorrow. I enjoy when it things go well. I don’t enjoy it when they don’t.
“We have standards and we have been really good at maintaining those. You can take these and put them to one side but I think everything has meaning and there is meaning to everything you do.”
On a happier note for the Celtic manager, Ange admitted that it was an emotional moment prior to the kick-off when he was presented with a framed Australia Football Hall of Fame award. “It is recognition of my journey in football and not just mine but for the people who set me off on my journey like my parents, my family, my kids and my friends and those who have been along for the whole journey.
“It is recognition for all their support of me and I have been fortunate to have be a part of that for the past 35 years in Australian football. Hopefully the best is yet to come.”
Next up for Celtic is Everton at 3.45am (Celtic Park Time) on Sunday morning, this time at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. A second defeat on his home soil would be hard to take for Ange Postecoglou and you get the feeling that The Celtic players will be very well aware of the significance of this match after they sit through the debrief of today’s surprise defeat.
