Ange Postecoglou will not be taking any time off, other than on Christmas Day morning, as he plans to take maximum advantage from the three week winter break that kicked in after the 3-1 away win at St Johnstone on Boxing Day. The Celtic players this year, unlike last year, were at home on Christmas morning before training in the afternoon ahead of the trip to Perth. Little things can make a big difference.
The Celtic manager has had his eye on this winter break for quite some time as the fixture list hasn’t allowed him the time or space to handle many things that he knows needs sorting as he’s gathered a better understanding on the state of the football club during his first six months in charge. You would imagine that the recruitment isn’t going to be limited to new players arriving and perhaps several leaving but will also extend to cover other areas of the background staff in areas such as sports science where Celtic may be behind the curve.
And that gruelling fixture list during his first six months in charge has only provided a very limited time for him to get his coaching methods across, there’s much more to come in that regard and the players will be getting coached onto the next level of Angeball shortly.
The transfer business has been bubbling away in the background for a while with two, possibly three new recruits anticipated to arrive early in January. For now that’s the main focus for Postecoglou. “No breaks. We keep cracking on. There is plenty to do,” Ange told Daily Record. “We’ve been working on it for a while, knowing that we needed to strengthen the squad during January. This gives us a chance, with no games, to push along with that. Hopefully we get some good news in the New Year and bring some reinforcements in.
As far as the players are concerned it a case of getting some well earned rest for now then get back to training to learn about next level – Angeball, while of course the treatment rooms will be overflowing. Three weeks of treatment and recovery will be most welcome as we look forward to getting players back. “It’s kind of been game-recovery for quite a while now. It’s going to be a crucial time for us and for the players. Just to be able to work with the players and work on our game and keep pushing and helping our game,” Ange explained.
That’s also why for him there will be no holidays. Ange has no interest in taking some well deserved time off. “Nah. I had a nice (Christmas) morning with my family. I’ve got some young ones who were causing chaos with their gifts from Father Christmas and that was great. But look, I love what I do. I don’t need to switch off. It’s fine.
“I’ve really enjoyed the first six months, as challenging as it has been. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I know there are massive challenges ahead so I’m looking forward to that.
“I’ve got plenty of energy. We’ll have plenty of time to switch off mate when I’m old and grey.”
WE’VE GOT SOMETHING TWICE AS GOOD…
Thanks to everyone who ordered Harry Hood – Twice as Good for Christmas presents. If you got an Ange jumper instead then why not order this brilliant book by Matt Corr, or indeed David Potter’s biography of another Celtic legend Alec McNair – born on this day incidentally – from Celtic Star Books or from the official Celtic stores?
