Ange Postecoglou had the Parkhead crowd hanging on his every word with his iconic speech following last season’s title win.
The Celtic manager promised to be back bigger and stronger... but he wasn’t just playing to the masses. Postecoglou was making a promise and laying down a hefty challenge to his team in the process. Boy, did they respond. Celtic fans were thrilled by last term’s surprise success, coming from 25 points behind Rangers to runaway champions. But to do it again in this style? He proved to be a man of his word.
He said: “I don’t know if it feels more special but it makes me immensely proud that the group embraced that. After winning it last year, I was throwing some words out there about being stronger and bigger and better – all those kind of things. I purposefully did that to throw out a challenge to the lads that we have to be a better team if we were to defend our title – especially being in the Champions League where people underestimate the physical and mental toll that takes on you. Through that time, our league form was outstanding.
“That was because the whole group was prepared to drive through that time. We were never going to be derailed from our main challenge of being champions again.
“I am immensely proud that the guys took on that mantle of being better than we were last year. The standard they have set this season has been unbelievable.”
Postecoglou wasn’t just being caught up in the moment. Celtic may have had to dig deep to get over the line at Tynecastle yesterday but the work they’d done to get to that stage was incredible. The Hoops have lost just once in the league all season while dropping points in only two other games to remain on course for a record-breaking tally.
Postecoglou set the bar high and his players reached it. He said: “I’m really proud. They’re just an outstanding group of players and staff. After the success of last season, you wonder whether the hunger is still going to be there as it’s still a young group. Are they going to be as motivated?
“But from the first day of pre-season they came back and wanted to be a better team – and be a stronger team. They have maintained a ridiculous standard of performance this year.
“They’ve just been incredible and I’ve rarely had to intervene at any stage to get them back on track. I’ve had the easiest job in the world in terms of just allowing these guys to drive how good they want to be.
“That’s players and staff. And I’m super proud of them. Everyone works hard but you want to get the reward at the end of it.”
Tynecastle seemed a fitting venue for Postecoglou’s latest coronation. It’s been an incredible two years. Back before his league debut in Gorgie, a poor broadcast reporter who asked if he knew much about the venue would have lost his head if it wasn’t on a Zoom.
“I’m from Australia, not the moon, mate," was the growl back.The look didn’t improve much after his cobbled-together Celts went down to the Jambos on day one. There were another couple of sore ones in those early days as well.
There were some doubts back then but not from the man himself. There was another reporter who caught the Ange death stare for a second yesterday when he was asked if he thought he would be sitting back here as a serial winner a couple of seasons on.
In typical fashion, Postecoglou said: “Yeah, I would have, mate. That’s why I did it. Walking off that day, I knew we had a mountain to climb but I knew that before we took the role on.
“I wouldn’t have taken it on if I didn’t believe that we could deliver in the way that we have. It has taken a leap of faith for a lot of people within the football club to trust me and my judgment in many areas.
“But I was confident that, if I had that kind of support, I could create a team that would make this football club proud and be
hard to stop. I have done that wherever I have gone. It’s not me being arrogant, it’s just the truth.
“I have that belief that wherever I am, we can create That. You are never comfortable at any stage. Walking off after that first game, I knew that we had to work quickly but I knew we could get there.”
Postecoglou’s reign is supreme at Celtic. The fans chanted his name during yesterday’s party and he admitted he cherishes his relationship with the Parkhead faithful.
He said: “The supporters have been unbelievable towards me from day one. I think they saw something even on that first day, whether that was in me or in the way that we went about things.
“They got behind us, they didn’t have to. They could have waited to See the evidence first before getting on board. But they got right behind me and the team from the start – even after a bumpy start.
“I am forever grateful for that and it’s something I’ll never take for granted. This football club has had a lot of success and a lot of great people have come through it.
“You have to earn the trust of the most important people – the fans. That’s a privilege for me.”
READ NEXT
