Ange Postecoglou knew immediate success at the expense of five-year plans was essential if he was going to be a successful as Celtic manager.
Speaking to former Australian international Mark Schwarzer on Optus Sport, the Celtic boss admitted the instant demands were something Celtic’s manager was acutely aware of as he arrived at a club who had surrendered their hold on three domestic trophies they’d held dear for the previous four campaigns.
“It’s been everything I expected, I think. You don’t go into a role like this kidding yourself about what you’re taking on. I was under no illusion that I was taking over a massive football club, with a massive following and massive expectations. But it was what was appealing to me, that’s where I wanted to be.
“I couldn’t do one of these AFL five-year plans where I walk in and say: ‘I’ll build a team in the next five years. I knew that wouldn’t cut it and it shouldn’t at a club like this. The reality of it is I had to come in this year and bring success to the football club. This football club can’t go two years without some sort of silverware.”
“I felt more respected in Japan than I do in Australia.” 👀
Ange’s tell-all with @Schwarzer_Mark on leaving the ‘Roos, AFL five-year plans at @CelticFC, returning to Australia & more 🍀🇦🇺
A sneak preview ahead of the full 50-minute discussion, dropping on the app tomorrow 📲 pic.twitter.com/U855Qi1DVt
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) March 22, 2022
Ange Postecoglou certainly picked up on the peculiar demands placed on a Celtic manager compared to other jobs early on in his tenure, but with a League Cup already bagged an unlikely Treble is now on the cards, with Celtic three points clear in the title race and also in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, with theRangers rivals for both trophies, how does Ange Postecoglou cope with the incessant demands? It appears it’s a case of putting one foot in front of the other, one game at a time, and to trust his players to deliver his methods.
“Just stay the course. I think all you can do is put yourself in a position to win things. So far, we’ve done things a certain way and it’s got us into this position, still knowing that the key bit is ahead of us.
“What you’ve got to fall back on is that I’ve got a real resilient group of players who, people will look back and not understand exactly. I mean, I was throwing in players who literally hadn’t trained with the team into league games, because that’s the state we were in at the start of the year.
“We’ve had injuries, COVID has hit us pretty hard at different times. All these things have happened and, along the way, I could have made allowances for the players and just said, look, this a new group of players we’re going to need time. I didn’t, I said, ‘no, we need to have success’. To their credit, this group has just not made one excuse all the way through.
“So when you go into the toughest part of the year, I’m thinking, you don’t know how the football’s going to pan out, but I’ve got a real strong, resilient group of players, a group of people who, whatever the battle is going to be out there, whatever the challenge, they’re going to be up for it.
“So that gives me the confidence and the soundness to say, well, mate, we’re going to have a go… I think we’ll have a crack at it, but, as you know, football mate, until it’s all done and dusted, you don’t know how it will all pan out.”
Whatever happens in the next few weeks, with April now looking like the month much will be decided, Celtic will be in good hands long-term under Ange Postecoglou. Yet the manager isn’t interested in long term plans. Instead, he’s aware he’s expected to deliver this season. And it appears he’s more than comfortable with that pressure and confident he has the players and vision to deliver on the demands made at a club like Celtic, where second best is simply never good enough.
Niall J
