Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to Celtic View ahead of Sunday’s eagerly awaited Scottish Cup semi-final showdown against theRangers at Hampden. The Celtic manager has already had three experiences of these intense Glasgow Derby fixtures since arriving at the club but Sunday’s game with throw up a new dynamic for both the manager and most of his players in that this will be the first game between the sides contested with an equal split of supporters there to cheer on their own side.
That is clearly something that interests Ange, a manager who has developed a close relationship with the Celtic support and is appreciative of the role the fans play in driving on the team whether it’s 60,000 at Celtic Park, 700 at Ibrox or as will be the case on Sunday, an equal split of around 25,000 for both sides with each trying to make more noise that the opposition.
And the Celtic manager has time to prepare and to contemplate what’s ahead for himself and his side on Easter Sunday at Hampden, a luxury that theRangers manager cannot afford this week as he prepares his side for the energy sapping Europa League match against Braga tomorrow night at Ibrox.
For the Celtic support there’s actually a silver lining in their Europa League progress, achieved despite collecting one point less than Celtic in the group stages. If theRangers overcome the 1-0 deficit from the first leg an go through to the semi-finals then they’ll have two further Europa League games mixed in with their post-split fixtures which includes a trip to Celtic Park.
If they win by a single goal that takes the game into extra time and possibly a penalty shoot out but from Celtic’s perspective it also puts another half hour or so on their already weary legs ahead of a short recovery time before they have to face up to Celtic at Hampden on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
if they lose then as the song says, what the hell do we care!
Anyway, back to what Ange has been saying in his conversation with the Celtic View editor Paul Cuddihy about Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. “It’s a cup semi-final so there’s meaning on the end of it, there’s consequences on the end of it”, Ange Postecoglou said. “Every cup game you play, if you want to progress you’ve got to perform on the day and you’ve got to get the job done on the day.
“There are no second chances, particularly in a semi-final, so it’s going to be a tight game, it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere. The players know the occasion – I don’t have to disguise or dress it up in any other way than it’s going to be a massive game with massive consequences, and it’s exactly where we want to be,” Ange said. And on the 50/50 split with rival supporters getting half the national stadium each Ange recognises that this is an altogether different dynamic to what he’s experienced in the three Glasgow Derby matches this season.
“It’s going to be a different experience, a bit of a unique one, and again, something to embrace and experience. It’s what we all want to be involved in. We want to be involved in these kind of games where, at the end of it, hopefully you’re making memories that will last beyond your own lifetimes.
“So, that’s the opportunity which exists and that’s the one we’re looking forward to. t’s what we all want to be involved in. We want to be involved in these kind of games where, at the end of it, hopefully you’re making memories that will last beyond your own lifetimes.”
And previous encounters with the same opponents has little or no bearing on the outcome of the next match, Postecoglou believes. So neither the 3-0 win at Celtic Park in February or the 2-1 win for Celtic at Ibrox ten days ago will influence Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final in any meaningful way according to Ange.
“Because it’s a cup semi-final, irrespective of previous form or previous encounters with the same team, it just becomes irrelevant. There’s always an edge to these games. You only have to remember the League Cup semi-final against St Johnstone – a super tight game. James Forrest comes on and wins it for us.
“Those kind of games, irrespective of form, irrespective of league position, irrespective of previous games, they’re tight, they’re tense, they’re physical, they’ve got everything you need and that’s what makes them such memorable affairs, and we’ll be prepared for it.”
🗣️ “There's always a kind of edge to these games."
Ange Postecoglou looks ahead to this Sunday’s @ScottishCup Glasgow Derby in his exclusive #CelticTV interview ⬇️https://t.co/1jrCiihb9b#Exclusive pic.twitter.com/0FGw1Nh5Wd
— Celtic TV (@CelticTV) April 12, 2022
Here’s last weekend through the eyes of Liam Kelly…and remember many of these Celtic supporters from far and wide will be making the journey back to Glasgow this weekend and will be at Hampden on Sunday to cheer on the Bhoys…
Enjoy the video…
