Celtic’s dominant second half performance last night against Shakhtar Donetsk was inpired by the half-time teamtalk from manager Ange Postecoglou, according to Croatian right-back Josip Juranović who was at the centre of both goals scored in this match, as was his direct opponent Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The highly rated Ukrainian international, who has been linked with a move to the English Premier League, took a heavy touch with around ten minutes played which allowed Juranović the chance to clear. That clearance turned into a brilliant diagonal pass to Sead Hakšabanović who went on to provide the assist for Reo Hatate (none of that own goal nonsense, please) to give Celtic the lead.
Mudryk soon enough got his revenge after Callum McGregor was caught out falling to intercept a pass, the Ukrainian dangerman got away from Juranović before lifting the ball over Joe Hart for a fine, if undeserved equaliser.
Shakhtar went on to have their best spell in the match but other than when former Celtic winger Marian Shved had two attempts to find the back of the net and managed it after a fresh-air strike, the flag was raised for offside and the ball had also gone out of play.
But then came the half-time whistle and the teamtalk that resulted in Celtic dominating the second 45 minutes but ultimately failing to get the decisive strike that would have brought the three points back to Paradise.
Revealing what Ange said to the players at the break, Josip Juranović revealed in his post-match interview with Celtic TV that the manager told them that “we need to leave everything. This is Champions League the biggest stage in football and we don’t have too many chances to be here.”
On failing to take the chances created the Croatian defender said: “I think that we had so many chances. Usually, especially in our championship, we score that. Today was a little bit of bad luck but we are looking forward to the next game. I think we have shown that we need to be in the Champions League and that’s it.”
Don’t miss Sandman’s Definitive Ratings, which were posted in the wee small hours of last night…
