When it comes to hitting the high street, Ange Postecogou leaves the decision making to his wife, admitting he’s clueless when it comes to the multitude of shopping choices available.
However, when it comes to the transfer market and the plethora of footballers available to sign it’s a different story for the Celtic manager. In that market Ange Postecoglou admits to having absolute clarity of thought to the style of player and the character required to fit into his footballing philosophy.
The Celtic manager has been discussing his Celtic rebuild with Australian media outlet Stan Sports and discussing what he looks for in a player and admits to having a picture in his mind as to what type of player ticks Ange Postecoglou’s boxes.
“It comes to me having a real clear idea of how you want the game to be played. I’ve often said I could go into a shop with my wife and she’ll know exactly what to pick and buy – I’ve got no idea!
“When I go looking for players I’m the same. I’ve got a real clear idea. When I see what I want I picture them in my team and when they fit that picture most of the time it works. It comes back to the first thing is that I have absolute clarity about how I want my team to play.
Anthony Ralston of Celtic celebrates with Kyogo Furuhashi after his second goal during the Premier Sports Cup match at Hampden. Photo: Neil Hanna / Sportimage
“What quality each player should have in each position and that should make it easier for the players as well because they’ve already got some of the things I’m looking for so their adjustment period becomes quicker.
“The players I’ve brought in have hit the ground running and people ask why so quickly but it’s because I already know they’ve go the attributes I’m looking for and the rest is just understanding the gameplay.
“In terms of the Japanese players, it was about treating them as individuals because sometimes those stereotypical things we think about in life in general don’t ring true and the four boys I’ve brought over are totally different people and different types of players.”
And the Celtic manager has also been candid as to the type of challenge he undertook when he took over at Celtic, the demands and frustrations of the Celtic support and a recognition that a second season without silverware simply was not a consideration –
“It’s nothing took unique. Any manager who gets a job is usually going in because things haven’t gone too well. You rarely pick it up when a team is flying. That part of it I understood. Every role I’ve taken I’ve taken when it needed some sort of new direction and I’m comfortable in that space.
“I kind of knew what I was heading into. Coming into a season when they hadn’t won anything, it’s very easy to say it’s a league they should dominate. But at the same time when you’ve come off a season when you’ve won nothing… when it happens at a club like Manchester United there needs to be a massive reaction.
Goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic Manager Angelos Postecoglou and captain Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrate with the trophy
“I kind of knew the magnitude of what I needed to do. It’s been pretty good so far and I’ve had tremendous support from the fans and good support from within the football club to take it in the direction I want to. But I kind of knew there was a ticking clock against me to get it right as soon as we possible could.
“People thought I was worried about my own tenure but it wasn’t just for me – I just knew a football club can’t go two seasons without success. It just can’t happen so I knew I had to get it right this first year and we’ve won a trophy, we’re doing okay in the league and we’re still in Europe.
“We got through the Scottish FA Cup so we’re doing okay mate but we’ve still got plenty to do.”
The rebuild at Celtic has happened at a far quicker rate than any Celtic supporter would reasonably have expected and much of that has indeed been down to Ange Postecoglou’s eye for a player and for individuals who bring the right mentality, as well as their footballing talent, to the manager’s change in footballing philosophy. However, it’s also down to the manager’s understanding of the size of club he was coming too and the manner in which Celtic fans prefer their football teams to play with.
On top of that the Celtic manager has shown a real understanding of what Celtic as a football club represents and has acknowledged the ethos of the football club is in keeping with his own upbringing as a Greek immigrant taken to Australia by his father in search of a better life.
Ange Postecoglou has been embraced by the Celtic support, and it is rare for a Celtic manager to have such universal backing amongst a huge fanbase so soon into his tenure. However, actions speak louder than words, and the evidence that Celtic have the right choice of manager in Ange Postecoglou has been exhibited from the moment he took over the job. On and off the pitch Postecoglou is the perfect fit for Celtic.
A simple mission for Ange when he joined Scottish giants @CelticFC 💪
Ange Postecoglou, speaking exclusively on Stan Sport FC.#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/H6xknVY94D
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
Here’s Ange on social justice and the Celtic core values that match his own…
Social justice. Ange Postecoglou 🤝 @Craig_Foster #StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/d3gLQZDYqs
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
Ange on the challenge he faced when arriving at Celtic, being comfortable in that space and the tremendous support he’s enjoyed from both the Celtic support and those inside the club. “A football club like @CelticFC can’t go two seasons without having success,” Ange says.
“A football club like @CelticFC can’t go two seasons without having success.”
Ange is going alright 👌#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/eou8FDmugB
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
Ange on having no idea what to buy when he’s in a shop with his wife. “I’ve got no idea”. Fortunately for Celtic, when he’s shopping for players he clearly knows what he wants…and another mention on treating the four boys from Japan as individuals…
Niall J
“I have an absolute clarity about how I want my team to play” Ange says…
Getting the right players is key 🔐
“I have an absolute clarity about how I want my team to play”#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/We0tygcNsi
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
Ange on the A-League, the Aussie boys doing well at Hearts and possible scouting in his homeland For Celtic…
Ange still has his eyes on the @aleaguemen 👀#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/xILPkSo8Ar
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
Ange on his frustrations for the national team in Australia and not becoming the footballing force he knows that they can be…
“I want us to become the football nation I know we can become,” Ange says.
“I want us to become the football nation I know we can become.”
Ange discusses his national team ambitions 🇦🇺#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/Tpu2qo3hmz
— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) February 14, 2022
