Ange Postecoglou reckons that theRangers progress to the Europa League semi-finals adds to his own side’s prestige given that the Ibrox outfit a re trailing Celtic in the league, having lost twice to Celtic in 2022 already.
The two sides meet in the Scottish Cup tomorrow at Hampden and there are clearly parallels between this season and Celtic’s run to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville in 2003 where Celtic ended up winning nothing and the now defunct Rangers FC benefited from the European distractions across the city – while funding their squad via an unlawful tax scam accompanied with dodgy Dave Murray’s side letters (lest we forget) – to win a Treble.
This year’s Europa League final is also in Seville and yesterday optimism was getting the better of many fans of the latest Ibrox club as they booked up flights to Seville. The league that season ended up being decided on goal difference, this time round that’s hardly likely to be an option as Celtic currently have a plus 19 advantage on theRangers, another sign that Celtic are the better side.
So the day after theRangers knocked out Braga, Ange was always going to be asked about that and brilliantly he turned that into a conversation about how it goes to prove how good a team he’s got at Celtic!
“You look at (the)Rangers and they have done awfully well in Europe. Their league form is pretty good and the results we’ve had against them have swayed things in our favour. They are a good side and they have been all year. We’ve proven to be a good side, as well.
“Is it two good teams going toe to toe? I absolutely agree with that. It’s a good point. People can think there’s one measure of things, that it’s up or down. I have never seen it that way. We are in competition on multiple fronts and we want to be successful in all of them.
“To do that we will have to overcome tough opposition, whether it’s in the league or the Cup. We are where we are right now because we have earned it, not because it’s been an easy ride for us.”
Ange was having none of it regarding the Ibrox outfit running on empty at Hampden after their 120 minutes of Europa League action on Thursday night. “You are grasping at straws if you start thinking that way.
“We are playing against an opponent we assume will be at their best. We won’t assume any side we face will be anything less than at the top of their game.
“People think Thursday’s game will have taken something out of them, but it might add to them. They might be buoyed by that result. They might be feeling good about themselves and come out and play their best game of the year. We have to be ready for that and be ready to produce our best game of the year.”
And with the League Cup already won and a very healthy six points advantage in the Scottish Premiership, inevitably going into tomorrow’s Scottish Cup semi-final against theRangers, The Celtic manager is going to be asked about the chances of completing a treble in his first season at the club.
“We have an opportunity. We have had a good season so far and we want to turn it into a great season. We haven’t done it yet. It’s at our doorstep now. We have an opportunity to get to a final and play for another trophy.
“That’s where our focus is right now and if we stick to that we could have the chance to win another trophy at the end of May.”
On his team for tomorrow, the injury news yesterday was that Giorgos Giakoumakis will sit this one out but should be fine for next weekend’s trip to Dingwall, David Turnbull has recovered from his knock against St Johnstone and is available for the semi-final against theRangers and James Forrest in back in the squad and available for selection after sitting out the past few weeks with a knock.
Watch Ange Postecoglou’s media conference below…
