Ange Postecoglou was visibly disappointed in the aftermath of our insipid 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park, after seeing his side not drop any points in the cinch Premiership since our 2-2 draw at Ibrox at the start of the New year. It was a surprise result that nobody saw coming and it shows the level that the manager now expects from his team.
As Postecoglou alluded to just the other day in the build up to the game, it’s not just about the result, but the overall performance that he looks to when he judges his team after a game. Well, it’s safe to say on Saturday he wasn’t awfully impressed with either the performance or the end result after his team struggled to display the form and consistency which they have done since 2 January.
Speaking after the game, Ange Postecoglou said: “It’s fair to say it’s disappointing both in outcome and performance. I thought in the first-half we were okay. We controlled the game and obviously we scored. We knew that the game would open up at some point so we just had to stay disciplined. I was really disappointed with the goal we conceded which gave them a bit of encouragement.
“We had some chances after that but we weren’t good enough to put them away. I just think it was a game where we just had to maintain control and probably we got a little bit too anxious about doing things and rushed a few things and forced a few things and, as I said, it’s a really disappointing goal for us to concede which then gives the opposition encouragement.”
The Celts still managed to go further ahead of their main rivals after they slipped up at Pittodrie on Sunday afternoon, making it 13 points of a gap that exists now. With only five league games now to play, the Hoops are in pole position to win the Scottish Premiership but that hasn’t stopped Ange from feeling the aggravation of this recent display from his team. “I don’t think that masks how disappointed we are – the players are and certainly I am,” the manager said.
“It’s fair to say the boys have been on an unbelievable run and you know that in football these kinds of things come to an end at some point. So you understand that, but there are elements within that game that we’re still disappointed with and we need to do better. Training won’t change. We’ve been training hard all week as we always do. That won’t change. It’s a matter of reviewing today, licking our wounds, taking our lessons and getting ready for a big game next week.”
Paul Gillespie
Been a celtic fan yes I’m disappointed from a football fan disappointed in the way motherwell waisted time what Kelly got away with was a crime and gets pulled up 5minutes to go Beaton never let’s the game flow but celtic had enough chances to win the game Taylor terrible defending at the goal were up 1-0and leave one man back our smallest player against there biggest 2 men should have been back that won’t happen again starfelt should be doing better with his headers in away sides box I don’t think semi final opposition team will defend with 10men there support won’t allow it so our players will have some space I’d be happy either awaka or hiata I think awake is a better passer hiata got caught in possion when press is on and like our midfield passing was of the last time to teams met at hampden but we should have taken our chances and won more convincingly