Ange Postecoglou

I love when big Ange goes on Open Goal, always a good laugh and it's really nice getting his insight and philosophies.

 

See with previous Celtic managers (and players) that did well for us, or I was particularly fond of... I always simply wished them well and then focused on Celtic (barring any obvious exceptions).

But I feel that whenever Ange leaves, I'll be following how he does. He's got some amazing qualities... hyper-driven, innovative etc, but he also comes across as a really sound guy who just loves football. Have so much respect for him.

 

Going to be really hard to say Goodbye in 2050.

 

Did ye hear Morelos went on Open Goal and he missed?

 

Some * getting paid to ask one question and do a tiny bit of research and still comes out with guff about Malky Mackay being the only top flight manager still in a job since Ange arrived..

He gets corrected by Ange himself saying Robbie Neilson. Swear Martindale's another at Livi..

Shameless..

 

Everything Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said to the media ahead of Celtic's League Cup tie against Ross County in Dingwall...

A couple of days on from the Dundee United game - how do you reflect on the magnitude and scale not only of the win but of the performance?




It was obviously a good day for us. The performance was really good and the quality of our goals were really good and the pleasing thing for us was that a lot of it came from stuff that we work on every day. You can win games on the back of individual performances but I just thought we were really good and there was a strong collective effort around our football.



We were relentless with it until the final whistle. We kept going which was pleasing. It was a great day and I keep saying to the players that every game provides you with an opportunity to lay down a marker and create something special and you don't want to dismiss any fixtures or just try and get through games, you want to try and be the best you can be.


It does go in the record books and that is something the whole group can be proud of. They all contributed to something that hasn't been done before. So it's great but we move on pretty quickly and we have a game tomorrow and our focus turns to that.

Can we get your reaction to Jack Ross leaving his position as Dundee United manager after such a short space of time?

I said after the game that we all realise the industry we are in and the position we all hold and the repercussions when things aren't going well. There is less patience and tolerance these days for things not going well. People feel that change is the only sort of recourse when things aren't going well.

In days gone by we were a little bit more patient and that's the industry we are in and we are all aware of it. Jack Ross was aware of it. For all football managers in today's world when things aren't going well there is always the potential that you can be relieved of your duties.

Since the day you walked into Celtic Park only Malky Mackay, [Robbie Neilson, Callum Davidson and David Martindale] are still at the same club in the Scottish Premiership. Is that an indication of the transient nature of what you are talking about in terms of the quick turnover of managers?

Yes. Robbie Neilson is still there as well unless you have got some news that I don't. As I said it is the nature of football in the current climate and I don't see it changing because there is such a real and visceral response to things these days because there are so many opinions and so many external pressures and scrutiny on everything that happens.

I've said in the past when I first started managing you could wait until Monday's papers before the pressure started but nowadays after the full-time whistle, there is already stuff happening. It's just the world we live in. Most people when they are looking for some sort of correction feel that change is the best way to go. That's kind of the nature of the roles we are in. Every manager understands that.




Does that make it all the more important to enjoy the good times when they are happening?

You always enjoy the good times. I've never worried about how long my tenure will last in every position I have held. It is not something that is at the front of my mind. In every job I have done, I have tried to perform to the best of my ability and enjoy it for as long as it lasts. None of us has any guarantees about how long we stay in any position but that does not stop you from wanting to enjoy it, it's not about enjoying as such it is about building stuff that is meaningful.

I've always gone into every position I have had with the idea that I am going to stay there for a long time and build a team that hopefully can do special things and whatever comes along the way or if it ends prematurely so be it.

Has the mood in training been sky high this week and has the bar now been set in terms of the team's collective effort and performance that you have been talking about?

To be fair, we’ve only had one session and that was this morning and there was only half the squad here as it’s been a quick turnaround. We don’t have time to reflect on our stuff. As I’ve said before, every game is an opportunity to set a standard, set a marker and it’s not about trying to reach some sort of profession, it’s about trying to improve.

Our performance on Sunday, the quality of our goals and the way we went about things in terms of our focus and discipline were excellent. There have been other games where we have been just as good and haven’t finished off our work but last weekend we did. That’s what we are striving for, constant improvement in our football and there are still different areas we can improve in to set us up for our games moving forward.

How is the squad looking? Is everybody fit and is this the first time we might see a few changes given it is the first midweek game of the season?

Everyone pulled up fine from the weekend. Obviously, Joe (Hart) had quite a few stitches in his head and that was the main thing that came out of the game. Giako (Giorgos Giakoumakis) is back fit, and he trained today so we have got a fully fit squad. Yes, I’ll make some changes tomorrow, not sure how many, but it’s about putting out a team which I think will get to the levels of performance that I think we need to win in a difficult game. It’s a quick turnaround for Saturday as well. Ross County away is a difficult away day anyway as you get back pretty early in the hours of the next morning, so with all that in mind, we will make some changes tomorrow.

How special is this tournament to you given that you won your first silverware as Celtic manager in this League Cup competition and you are now starting your defence of it?

I think the League Cup was significant for us, especially last year. We had a challenging start to the year and winning a trophy in the first few months added some real belief into the squad about the direction we are heading, and I think everyone involved in the football club could see some real progress. It was an important trophy to win but that’s the nature of this football club.

Irrespective of my feelings toward a particular competition, the expectations are still the same and you have to try to win every game you play and every competition you’re in. That doesn’t change for us tomorrow night. It’s a challenging fixture, we know going to Ross County is a difficult test and they’re a hard team to play against but every team in cup competitions has potential pitfalls to fall into, so we need to be ready to be at our best.

The transfer window closes soon can you bring us up to speed with any bids you have had for players that are with you already or those who may go out on loan and are you still thinking you could do some business before the window shuts?

There are still possibilities and there’re a few things going on in the background in terms of outgoings and incomings. We may very well do nothing,or we very well do a couple of things. They’re a lot of things going on in the background and I guess we will all find out in the next 48 hours.

 

Callum Davidson tae.

 

That interview made me buzz he talking about Celtic as a long term project he sees himself being here for quite a bit of time looking for a legacy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Built his statue yet?

 

The recruitment since ange has come in has been * absurd, I've never seen such a large turnover of players were 95% or more have been absolute bangers, not to mention the players he's improved who were already here. Unreal, obviously the scouting department deserves credit too.
I'm only saying this cause sead looks like another success from his wee cameo.

 

Unreal what he's doing..

Our depth is ridiculously good..

Makes 9 changes and we cruise it up there. Makes a host of changes and we go up another gear..

Roll on Saturday..

 

Ange said there's a few things going on re transfers - I imagine there'll be a few outs but what about ins?

 

That smile. Ones coming and he knows it.

 

Working on stuff he will be on the bus with a castlemine XXXX while ze speccy one is conducting a deal

 

One thing confirmed as no coming in is my stauner.

 

Where does a new player even play