Ange Postecoglou today spoke about using the collective hurt felt in the Celtic camp last April after that extra-time defeat to theRangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final as fuel that can propel Celtic towards four wins at Hampden in the coming months starting with the League Cup semi-final against Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon (kick-off is 5.30pm). Meanwhile the Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes reckons his players are well aware of the quality tomorrow’s opponents saying that they “don’t live on the moon”.
Speaking at his pre-match Media Conference today, the Celtic manager explained the significance of winning matches at Hampden and indeed the importance of not losing at the National Stadium.
“I think you use it as fuel because you can’t just dismiss these things. You can’t just put to one side because a lot of support is about how you overcome challenges. How you overcome things that happened in the past and you address it, not ignore it.
“Losing the semi-final last season wasn’t an enjoyable experience, wasn’t enjoyable for all us. There’s a finality to it because there is no point analysing cup games you lose because you’re out.
“In the league, you can drop a game or have a poor performance but you have a chance to rectify it a week after. Our players are prepared, they like a challenge and they are looking forward to testing themselves in that environment.”
Meanwhile, Derek McInnes has been busy talking up the quality of this Celtic side this week, perhaps hoping to lull the Hoops into a false sense of security, but he is well aware what will be needed from his players if they are to pull off a shock result at Hampden tomorrow to reach the final against either Aberdeen or theRangers.
McInnes said: “Players don’t live on the moon, they know how good Celtic are. They watch them, they see how strong the individuals are, and it is wrong for me to over-elaborate all these points.
“We always look at the opponent but it is my job and the staff’s job to get the players prepared properly for every game. And when it is a team like Celtic who are such a strong opponent, we still have to do the right things for us.
“We have to make sure the players are right physically and make them right tactically which is a big part of it when you play a stronger opponent but the mental part of it is probably the biggest part of it. need to see personality, I need to see life about us, I need to see confidence and I want people who are going to impress,” McInnes said.
“Sometimes it is more than just ability you need to overcome an opponent like Celtic, it is not just the playing side of it, it is everything else and I will be looking for that this weekend.”
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