Ange Postecoglou reminded us all of the standards that have been set at Celtic when he pointed out a few weeks ago that he would not be given three years to win his first trophy. That of course was the situation across the city for Steven Gerrard where during a global pandemic and with no fans in the stadiums (other than the ones with whistles) he was able to deliver the one and only trophy of his time in Scotland.
For context while the former Liverpool captain, now managing Aston Villa was in Scotland Celtic won six trophies, St Johnstone two and theRangers one.
For Ange Postecoglou he could not contemplate that kind of return from three seasons in Glasgow and instead is looking to make his own record one from one this afternoon before turning his attention back to the Cinch premiership campaign in midweek, should the matches go ahead.
“I sensed the importance when I accepted the position,” Ange Postecoglou told Premier Sports ahead of the League Cup Final this afternoon. “I was under no illusion that, irrespective of the external expectations of me, this club couldn’t have a season again like they did last year.
“And that was my responsibility from the moment I accepted this position — to make sure that we gave ourselves every opportunity to bring silverware back to the club. I haven’t wavered from that. I don’t think I’ve once given allowances to myself or the team to say, ‘Give us time, we’re a new team’,” Scottish Sun reports. “I’ve said all along we are going to try and be as successful as we possibly can this year because that is what this club demands, particularly after a year where there was no success.
“There’s no extra significance for me at this moment because I realised that when I accepted this position. And we have a chance, an opportunity, to achieve that and that’s what we have to focus on.”
🍀 @celticfc‘s 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗱𝗲𝗻
Check out how the Bhoys have made it to this weekend’s #PremierSportsCup Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OVEXfEysB6
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) December 14, 2021
Ange has also called in his experienced players, the course and distance winners such as Callum McGregor, Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Nir Bitton to step forward and assist the new players who have arrived at the club since the summer re-build got underway and have yet to find out what winning trophies for Celtic is all about.
“Absolutely, you call on that. Whether’s it’s Callum McGregor, Tommy Rogic, Nir Bitton or James Forrest. Joe Hart’s been in some pretty big games. You want these guys to help steer the other guys on what to expect.
“But they all have to be ready for it because in big games there’s no place to hide, there will be no cover or shelter for any individual. Every player will be exposed. Both teams will be exposed and you have to stand up to it and that’s what I want my players to do, just to embrace that.
“We all realise it is a new team in just about every aspect in terms of player turnover, leadership positions. It’s a kind of a new beginning. But we all know, even the ones who have just come this year, what the expectations are when you represent this club. It is that you bring success.
“I have tried to make sure all along that I am not going to make allowances for me or for the players of this team who are new, that we can’t be successful. We all come here understanding silverware is expected every year and in every competition you are expected to try and be successful.”
💬”When I joined this football club, that was obviously the aim and I was under no illusions that I was to try and bring success to this football club and the first opportunity for that will be Sunday.”🍀
More from the boss ⤵️#PremierSportsCup
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 18, 2021
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