Ange Postecoglou has signalled that he’ll look to his squad tomorrow to introduce players who have been performing well in training but have not been getting the game-time that their efforts have perhaps merited. That could mean starts for the likes of Aaron Mooy and perhaps even David Turnbull in the Celtic midfield, maybe Giorgos Giakoumakis could get the nod to lead the line ahead of Kyogo and don’t be surprised if Sead Hakšabanović gets the nod ahead of Jota.
In the back four there’s a concern over right-back Anthony Ralston and will Josip Juranovic still not back from his post World Cup week-off until Monday and Ally Johnston not registered as a Celtic player until the end of the month the manager might need to be creative in sorting that one out if Ralston isn’t fit.
Greg Taylor covered the position on Wednesday night after Ralston had to go off and that remains an option. The Celtic manager could perhaps look to the Celtic B team or maybe use someone like Moritz Jenz as an emergency right-back, although that seems unlikely.
We’d have a better idea if the media conference was on today so we’ll have to wait until the team-sheet is released at 11.15am tomorrow to find out.
Meanwhile here are the questions put to Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday evening relating to tomorrow’s game against St Johnstone at Celtic Park and the Celtic manager’s answers.
Q: It is a busy schedule and you made one change against Livingston do you expect to make a few more over the next few games?
Ange Postecoglou: “Yeah, I think that’s a fair assumption based on how busy the schedule is but also based on performances too. If guys are performing at the levels we know they can there are some pretty good players there who are not getting game time and training hard and you have to reward that at some point.
“That’s why we have a big squad and coupled with the fact we do have a busy schedule we will make some changes for the St Johnstone game. It will be another good and tough game for us. Callum is an excellent coach and he has got them well-organised and well-drilled. Every time we play them it is a challenge and I am sure it will be on Saturday.”
Q: How important is it to finish off with a victory on Saturday before Christmas?
Ange Postecoglou: “I think in the context of everything, every game is important. For us, it is about making sure constantly evolving, progressing and improving as a team. We can’t stand still, we can’t just rely on the fact that we had some decent results and think that it is just going to keep rolling on.
“You need to be at it in every game and on top of your game and that’s what has got us to the position that we are today. We haven’t done that by looking too far ahead or worrying about what has happened before. It is about us dealing with what’s in front of us and that’s what we need to keep doing.”
Q: What will be the biggest challenge now from the last time you faced St Johnstone?
Ange Postecoglou: “The thing about St Johnstone is that they are a little bit like Livingston and they do not really change their approach whether they are playing us or any other side. I think there is consistency in their approach which means that their players understand their roles really well. We need to be really disciplined in our approach and play our football to make sure that we can counteract that and gain the dominance we need to win the game. We will be under no illusions it will be a tough one.”
Q: Is it harder to reach the performance levels you are looking for when it is such a packed schedule or do you still expect that the players will hit those heights?
Ange Postecoglou: I don’t think so, it doesn’t make it as simple for sure but I still think within the context of the Livingston game up until the box in the first half we were very, very good. You can’t be very, very good for 75 per cent of the game. You have got to be very, very good for 100 per cent of the game if you want good performances. I don’t think the Livingston performance was down to fatigue because I didn’t change the team and it wasn’t anything to do with cohesion.
“We just lacked discipline and structure and sometimes I don’t think it’s good to get a reminder because we should know that anyway whether I think it’s good or not football always reminds you if you get away from the principles of your play and we got a little reminder against Livingston.
Watch Ange Postecoglou’s pre-match media conference ahead of tomorrow’s match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park. Please note that, due to the festive season, this shortened media conference was pre-recorded on Wednesday evening after the 2-1 win over Livingston.
