You can almost smell the fear as the Ange Postecoglou Celtic juggernaut steamrolled theRangers in the recent Glasgow Derby on their way to the top of the Scottish Premiership, having turned around a six point gap since the return from the winter break. With the League Cup already back in the Parkhead trophy room there is a huge momentum in Celtic’s favour as Postecoglou’s squad, considerably strengthened in the January transfer window, looks like sweeping everything in front of them this season domestically and perhaps also in the Europa Conference League.
This evening Celtic enter that competition with a play-off against Norwegian Champions Bodø/Glimt for a place in the last 16 of the competition and yesterday both the Celtic Manager and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis both stating that Celtic are looking at winning this cup too. Celtic fans are increasingly confident that Ange’s side will win the league. Then there’s the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday 21 May. Imagine getting there and winning before perhaps heading to Tirana for the Europa Conference League Final on Wednesday 25 May…fantasy football thoughts all of that but stranger things have happened.
And while we can DREAM about it there is an open sense of DREAD that it might just happen among those rooting for the latest Ibrox club. Celtic finished the Europa League Group stages with 9 points after achieving 3 wins, that was actually a higher points total than theRangers who qualified with 8 points but face a daunting task in Germany. Celtic meanwhile maybe have a better route to continuing a European adventure this season which could even lead to another trophy for that trophy cabinet that has already seen two league cups added to it so far this season (Fran Alonso’s side also won the women’s league cup for the first time in a decade).
That DREAD has been expressed by the player who has the distinction of playing for all three Glasgow clubs who have had a hand in the city rivalry, Rangers, Celtic and theRangers. But make no mistake Miller is no Celtic man and is very much a supporter of the club founding father Charles Green created back in July 2012.
Speaking on an Australian podcast the DREAD was apparent from Miller on Australian media outlet FTBL.
Here’s their headline and the intro…
Rangers great stunned by Celtic’s ‘sensational’ Postecoglou
His blood runs royal blue, but Rangers legend Kenny Miller can’t help but admire the “sensational” impact Ange Postecoglou has had in rescuing Celtic from the ruins of Neil Lennon’s reign.
Miller told FTBL: “From a Rangers fan perspective, it’s not great to see but from a neutral point of view what Ange has achieved so far has been incredible. You have to give credit where it’s due. From theRangers side a major concern is just how much of an impact Ange has had in such a short space of time.
“The question is what might he go on to accomplish now from the base he’s already built. For sustained success you need stability throughout the club, from the coaching staff, to the players to the boardroom and Ange hasn’t initially had that because he’s still building something.
“If he stays on the path he’s on it only promises bigger things to come. The league title is going to go down to the wire and It bodes well for Scottish football because you need a strong Celtic and a strong Rangers (sic). Some of what I’ve been seeing from Celtic under Postecoglou has been nothing short of sensational.”
Miller continued: “Ange has done a wonderful job but there was always going to be that moment from the start where you wondered which way it was going to go. Not many Scots knew exactly what he was going to bring. He needed to come in and make an immediate impact and that’s what he’s done.
“He is likeable, he is straightforward and honest but the most important thing is the style of football and the results he’s bringing. Celtic needed to improve after last year’s difficulties, which came off the back of four fantastic seasons.
“The fans demanded improvements and they’ve got that. They didn’t know that Ange would be the man because they knew so little about him. But they know he’s the man now. You have to remember (Celtic and Rangers) fans are very unforgiving. They demand success and if things aren’t going well it can be a very tough place to work.”
Miller also points to Ange Postecoglou pretty remarkable success rate in the transfer market since arriving at Celtic.
“Almost all his signings have brought something positive to the club and most have hit the ground running. It’s not just about signing good players it’s about bringing in the right personalities and characters who can adapt to the environment he has created, and he’s accomplished that.
“His bench is so strong now that any time he makes changes it’s like for like, the players all know their roles and their responsibilities. And some of the football they’ve been playing has been breath-taking, especially that first half against (the)Rangers.”
Miller knows it and he is sick having to lie to bum a team up to get it edited in this country in Australia no such block he would never get that past scottish editors in out rags and that’s how sales are constantly going down