David Potter summed it up pretty well earlier with his review of the match in Bodo this evening. Celtic’s grizzly horrors – Neuchatel Xamax, Artmedia Bratislava and now Bodo Glimt is well worth a read.
The Celtic Manager spoke to BT Sport after his side exited the Europa Conference League with a 5-1 thrashing to the Norwegian Champions who operate with a mere fraction of the budget that Celtic has. Here’s what Ange had to say, with Connie McLaughlin asking the questions for BT Sport. Before that here’s Ange speaking to Celtic TV…
Ange Postecoglou gives his thoughts on the match. #UECL | #BODCEL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/2dvG4QPefV
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 24, 2022
BT Sport: Ange, that was a pretty convincing defeat in the end, what do you put that down to and can you sum up the two legs?
Ange: I think it’s fair to say we weren’t good enough over the two legs. Our levels of performance weren’t at the levels that we needed to be. They deservedly go through.
BT Sport: Can you pinpoint the reason for that as the fans are used to seeing quality domestically and multiple attempts at goal but there were only two tonight, can you think why it happened?
Ange: We have done it in Europe as well but we have not done it in these two games. These are our least effective two performances in Europe and I include when we got beat 4-0 by Bayer Leverkusen. Our levels weren’t where they should be over those two games and they deservedly go through.
BT Sport: With the quality that you have in the squad and the development ongoing, would you have expected to go further in the competition?
Ange: I expect to go further in every competition we play in. That is the nature of this football club. This year for us Europe was a bit beyond us in terms of the levels we need to get to. It is disappointing as we wanted to be progressing further in the competition and it is my responsibility to make sure we improve and perform better next year.
BT Sport: Do you have a word for some of the supporters that made the journey as the players showed their appreciation to them?
Ange: The supporters are outstanding and they were still very encouraging at the end with the players, unfortunately, we have not sent them home happy this time but I think they understand where we are at and what we need to do.
BT Sport: It is Hibs on Sunday, does this make the overall aim of the league more achievable for you with the fact that there are now fewer games and the focus is solely on that and the Scottish Cup?
Ange: It shouldn’t because this football club demands that you compete in multiple tournaments and it is not about being out of one tournament making it easier in another. That is not where our focus is. That is the next challenge for us is on Sunday and we are in a difficult game against a good side and we must make sure that we perform better.
“Over two legs we were not good enough.”
“It’s my responsibility to make sure we improve and next year perform better.”
Ange Postecoglou dissects a disappointing night for Celtic following elimination from the Europa Conference League.#UECL pic.twitter.com/uk0S70vIXe
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 24, 2022
Top of the league looking down on the rangers and only explication I can find 🔝 pic.twitter.com/PuXYCSwQ6V
— Peter Dickson (@peterdickson06) February 24, 2022
