Ange Postecoglou is desperate for Celtic to display their “rock and roll” football when they head back to his homeland.
The Hoops will jet off to Australia for the Sydney Super Cup for games against Sydney FC and Everton in what will be Postecoglou ’s first return home for three years. They were due to be joined by city rivals Rangers, but the Ibrox club pulled out of the tournament after "it became clear the tournament organisers were unwilling to fulfil their commitments to Rangers,” said a club statement. There was also a backlash from supporters.
Fellow Aussie Harry Kewell will be by Postecoglou’s side after joining the Parkhead coaching staff in the summer. But far from being a jolly in the sunshine, Kewell is adamant that his boss will be going all out to win both matches and in the style Celtic fans have come to expect over the last year and a bit.
“We’ve got the two games out there and he will want to win them,” said the former Leeds United and Liverpool star. “I can tell you now, he will want to win them.
“He will be full on. But it will be nice to show the Australian public what he’s all about.
“He’s got a Celtic team playing a certain type of football that is…rock and roll. It’s hardcore, it’s full on. It’s his style.
“We know that the manager’s always been about ball possession, wanting to control the game and has always had the high press, trying to run teams into the ground. It takes a lot out of the players, because it’s hard work.
“It’s easy to destroy. To just sit back and boot balls away. It’s harder to create, to constantly run at people and create space, but it’s fun. If everyone is on the same page, it works.
“In moments that I’ve seen, when players have maybe dropped their heads slightly, that’s where the fans kick in. With the chanting, constant cheering and driving the team forward. It gets them excited so when you do receive the ball, you want to go that extra mile.”
Asked whether Postecoglou was as intense off the touchline as he is on it, Kewell told Optus Sport : “Yeah, which I like because it keeps me on my toes. It makes you think right, have I got everything sorted? I’ve got to make sure because he demands. His standards are here and you feel like you have to be ready.
“He can strike at any time and you don’t want to be on the end of that. I just want to make sure my job’s done perfectly.
“To get the opportunity to work with not only a top manager, but an Australian manager that’s done it the tough way. Is now to come in and really learn off someone. I've gone into coaching straight off the back of playing, which I loved doing, but I’ve never really had guidance.
“So this opportunity he’s presented me, I had to take it. I’ll be forever grateful to him.”
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