Michael Beale was sitting close enough to Ange Postecoglou at the managers’ Viaplay Cup final press conference that he could have asked him about his gamble in last season’s final which proved decisive in winning the trophy they will contest on Sunday.
Then again, the rival managers didn’t look like they were up for a cosy chat. Still, it’s true that Postecoglou’s decision to play Kyogo Furuhashi paid off big time last season as the Japan star netted a double against Hibs to claim the Celtic gaffer’s first silverware of his Parkhead tenure.
Kyogo missed the two previous games for the Hoops with a hamstring injury but repaid Postecoglou who threw him into the starting line-up. The Celtic manager doesn’t have such big decisions to make this time around, with Aaron Mooy possibly the only one who falls into that category. But opposite number Beale has plenty of them. Kemar Roofe has joined John Lundstram, Malik Tillman and Ryan Jack as just four of a lengthy injury list who are battling to be fit. He wants the players to be honest with him but there are no guarantees of that on such a big occasion.
