Ange Postecoglou explained why he didn’t start Odsonne Edouard on Thursday night in Holland and hinted that he planned to name the French goalscorer in his starting evolve today as Celtic make the short trip across the city to The Den of No Equity for the midday kick-off.
With multiple bids now arriving for the French Under 21 striker today looks like the last time that the former Paris Saint Germaine striker will wear the Hoops and he’ll want to go out with a bang on a ground where he’s accustomed to enjoying a Beautiful Sunday.
Edouard x Tsunami pic.twitter.com/q4ueZ3F7Mt
— Celtic Latest (@CelticLatest) August 28, 2021
“No one can tell me they are watching Odsonne play at the moment and say he is not giving everything,” the Celtic manager explained, as his pre-match Mainstream Media conference on Friday afternoon. “Even on Thursday in Alkmaar, I thought he came on and made a difference for us.
“We didn’t start with him because I felt they would come at us and with Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada’s speed and Ryan Christie wide we could get into the space behind them and cause some problems. I had the feeling we’d need Odsonne later to hold the ball up and he did his job superbly.
“He scored on the weekend, he is in good form. You know there is no hesitation whatsoever for me to select him on Sunday.”
Just like every Celtic supporter, we hope against all hope really that Odsonne might stay at the club but recognise that as a well-documented want away, he now has options with at least three bids arriving – crucially the latest from England (A £15m bid from Crystal Palace was received last night according to Daily Mail) to add to the recent bids from Russia and France. This should be enough to force an auction to get the price Celtic are looking for over the next few days, and when personal terms are sorted then it will be time to say au revoir to French Eddie. But none of that will happen today!
“I will be happy if they all stay. I’ve said before that I am not going to convince anyone to stay, but they are quality players,” Ange continued. “He and Ryan are the ones people are speaking about most and they have both been fantastic since I have come in, with their attitude and the way they train.
“If they stay, great, but these are decisions for them. They know what is best for their careers and their lives. If it so happens they leave in this window then they do so on the best terms. They have given everything for the shirt.
“If they stay, brilliant. They are two quality players who will add to what we have.”
Before that though Odsonne will want the chance to give us all one last Man of the Match performance, one last glorious day in the Glasgow Derby. One more Beautiful Sunday.
