‘Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou on the naysayers, and what it feels like being on the verge of securing a league title.’ ABC Sport Australia…
Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to ABC Sport Media in Australia ahead of today’s Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park against theRangers where a win for his side will effectively wrap up the title in green and white ribbons to return the Scottish Premiership trophy to the ‘Parkhead Trophy Room’ for the tenth year out of eleven.
“People were questioning my appointment, I love that stuff,” Ange Postecoglou on the naysayers.
“I kinda knew coming over here that for the most part people would a) be questioning my appointment and b) my credentials but I’ve kinda though my whole career used that as a positive for myself. In any kind of opportunity that you get, if people underestimate you then you’re in a pretty good space provided you deliver and I was always confident once I got here I could do what I’ve always done in terms of building a team and building a style of play that can bring success.
“I took over after a year when the club didn’t win anything after nine years of unprecedented success. A club like this can’t go two years without winning something so I knew that whilst there was going to be a massive re-build, I also knew that I had to deliver in this first year and we managed to win the League Cup, which was fantastic but the major prize is still ahead of us and that is the goal.
“For all it’s challenging beginnings, people who know me know I love that stuff, I love at the beginning when it’s all sort of uphill and people doubt you and we’ve got through it pretty well.
ABC Sport: So you had a 3-0 win over theRangers back in February and you’ve got them again at Celtic Park tonight (Aussie time). When it comes to a home game against theRangers (yes she calls them theRangers!) weigh up against coaching Australia at a World Cup?
“It’s different for sure, the World Cup is special and when you are managing your own country it’s even more significant but the atmosphere that night (2 February, Celtic 3 theRangers 0) I’ve never experienced anything like it in terms of as a participant, Celtic Park at night under the lights against (the)Rangers knowing that a win takes us top for the first time in a year, and the way we played the first 45 minutes was unbelievable.
“You literally couldn’t hear yourself think let alone talk on the night. For me that part has probably been the most special bit. I’ve craved that sort of passion for my game that I know we have for other sports in our country but it’s what was missing. I’m such a driven person but I didn’t feel that we had the same passion for the game that exists over here and I’ve got it in bucket loads here.
“At our home games, every one of them has 60,000 there, they don’t stop singing, particularly in a Derby it ramps up so it is truly special, truly unique and I think for anyone who loves sport experiencing at least one game at Celtic Park is something you’ll never forget.”
“People were questioning my appointment … I love that stuff.” ⚽@CelticFC manager Ange Postecoglou on the naysayers, and what it feels like being on the verge of securing a league title. 🍀💚💛#CELRAN #GlasgowDerby #OldFirm
📰 Full sport coverage: https://t.co/wzVDJ5Slqj pic.twitter.com/pjUcyDmRyP
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) May 1, 2022
When he arrived they asked who? Our rivals gloated he would be sacked by Christmas. Pundits declared Old Firm FC would walk the league. He ignored it all and did his job with humour and dignity and rebuilt a team from scratch. Thank god @CelticFC have Ange Postecoglou HH pic.twitter.com/p8a4iKgVJz
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) May 1, 2022
