For Ange Postecoglou yesterday’s win at Ross County was no different to what he and his players have faced since week six of the Scottish Premiership season.
While a narrative had built up in the mainstream media of last weekend’s Scottish Cup defeat impacting on Celtic when the Hoops returned to league business – wishful thinking on some people’s part – it certainly wasn’t something the Celtic boss considered as anything other than business as usual this season.
The Hoops boss speaking after the match pointed out having little room for error is a mindset that Celtic have been coping with for some months now, and as they showed once again with a controlled win in Dingwall yesterday outside noise hasn’t impacted a Celtic team the manager described as being ‘laser focused’.
“Every game has been important to win, Have a look at our record from round six. If people can show me the games where we could have afforded a slip up, I’ll be happy to have a look. Every game has been important, every performance has been important. Today was no different,” Ange said as reported by Celtic TV.
“We just have to continue on with the football we’ve been playing with whatever challenges we have – and I felt we did that today. You talk about statements and all these things – we lost in extra time to a single goal in a cup semi-final.
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“If that’s evidence for things that need drastic change or that we’ve gone off the rails…that was our first loss in I don’t know however long. I get why people have extreme reactions to it. But I can tell you that by Tuesday, we were disappointed obviously because we were out the cup and really wanted to get to the final, but we were back training at our levels and getting ready for the game today.
“We never lost our momentum; We lost a cup semi-final in extra-time. We have been very good for a very long time and that’s why we sit where we sit.
“From my perspective it wasn’t about a reaction to last week. We were disappointed, but it didn’t really affect anything that happens in the league. We’ve been walking this tightrope for a very, very long time. I think people haven’t noticed because the players have dealt with it very well.
“You look at our record and the challenges we’ve had throughout that time, the players have been laser focused. What’s important is that we come up to every game, respect our opponent and try and play our football and impose ourselves on it.”
For those of a nervous disposition Celtic now need two wins from four remaining fixtures to ensure the league flag flies at Celtic Park once again. For those a little less skittish the title can effectively be won with a win at Celtic Park next weekend against theRangers.
Last weekend’s semi-final, whilst a chastening experience was one where, despite the fallout from it was as close an encounter as you get, and one where it is no excuse to say the referee and his lenient approach lent more to the tactics of the opposition than they did to Celtic’s.
Kevin Clancy’s decision to caution County’s Ross Callaghan yesterday showed what a timely intervention can do to a player who starts the game as if he was hell bent on injuring an opponent – and testing the match official.
Once that card had been issued Callaghan was like a rottweiler who had received his red meat and his urge to bite at Celtic players was diluted to a snarl. Had John Lundstram or Calvin Bassey received the same from Bobby Madden last week a fair game may have broken out.
If Sunday’s Glasgow derby is officiated with a modern interpretation rather than Bobby Madden’s 1980’s laws of the game, Celtic have the footballers to win on Sunday and the league to all intents and purposes will be won.
There will of course now be a long and nervous build up to this game, but for Ange Postecoglou and Celtic you get the impression it will be business as usual having walked the same tightrope since game six of a campaign with no margin for error.
Niall J
