Ange Postecoglou and Martin O’Neill spoke to Sky Sports after the title winning celebrations at Paradise on Saturday afternoon as the current Celtic manager tried to put into words what becoming Scottish Champions at the first time of asking means to him. Here’s how that interview went…
Q: Could you have imagined scenes like this when you arrived at the club and in Glasgow last June?
Ange Postecoglou: “Martin O’Neill will tell you we all start with the greatest of ambitions and the greatest of dreams. From where we started at the beginning of the season, I knew it was going to be a massive challenge for us. It has probably been the tightest league for a number of years and (the)Rangers were outstanding all year but this group of players have been brilliant for me. They have gone the last 32 weeks without losing a game of football. It is a remarkable achievement.”
Q: What has been the biggest challenge over the course of this season?
Ange Postecoglou: “There are always challenges. I kind of flip it and say we had a real clarity of purpose and we really just had tunnel-vision all year. There were so many things that potentially could have gotten in our way and we shared this common goal as we tried to do something special this year. We weren’t going to let anything sort of derailing us from that. The players, the staff, and even the fans all bought into it and that is why we are here.”
Q: As the title came closer we were wondering when you would give us a smile, you were emotional today weren’t you as we could see that?
Ange Postecoglou: “I said the other night, I have to enjoy it because if I don’t enjoy it they (the players) don’t enjoy it. I want them to enjoy it, the players, the staff, and their families. Our families make the biggest sacrifices and we go and have a little fun on the side but they are the ones that are getting on with real life. I want them all to enjoy it and if they can see I am smiling even for an afternoon then I think that helps.”
Q: Can you sum up your emotions?
Ange Postecoglou: “The whole thing has been fairly surreal for me and even now I am trying to comprehend it all. There will be a moment of reflection and understanding of what we’ve achieved but I just feel great pride. I share this journey with these legends (Martin O’Neill) and I know that in 20 years’ time if I bump into these people then I know we have shared a magic moment together.”
Q: We never stop is the mantra – do you get to stop now for a couple of days?
Ange Postecoglou: “Yes. This afternoon and back to work tomorrow. That’s it that’s the nature of this football club. We are going to be expected to come back next year and produce these special moments for these fans again. There is no greater motivator for me. I will have a good break with the family but we will be back next year and be bigger and better.”
Q; You did it in style. You sent the same message from day one playing a style of football you wanted to enjoy and the fans to enjoy and we saw it today will it be the same next season again?
Ange Postecoglou: “It has to be. We all know that there are many ways to win a football match and they are all legitimate and there are different ways of achieving success. For this football club and reading through the history and what it means to the people, they want to see their football team win a game of football every week. They want to win it by playing football that will get them up off their seats and I really believe in it. It is what I believe in and it is what I grew up with and I think that is what this football club wants and deserves to win but to win in a certain way.”
Q: You knew about Celtic before you arrived as they are a massive club around the world, has it surprised even you how it is had got under your skin and the way you have been welcomed at this club?
Ange Postecoglou: “It is pretty hard for me to explain to people when you grow up on the other side of the world this is what you crave. I am passionate about football. I love it. I happen to live in a country that didn’t share that. They shared it for other sports but not ours. I have been craving this my whole young adult life. From the moment I got here, I have tried to immerse myself in it. This is where I want to be and what I want to be a part of. It hasn’t disappointed. It’s been unbelievable.”
Q: You will be the first Australian manager to manage in the Champions League and that’s another little tick how does that make you feel?
Ange Postecoglou: “I want to make an impact there. Being there is one thing and this club deserves to be there as it is where it should be but again like this man (O’Neill) you have got to make an impact in Europe as well.”
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou reflects on winning the cinch Premiership and looks ahead to the future! 💚
P.s watch out for THAT tackle from a security guard🤣 pic.twitter.com/piTuSozXK9
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 14, 2022
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