ANGE POSTECOGLOU is hoping the much-maligned Hampden pitch will hold up to allow Celtic and Rangers to put on a League Cup Final Hampden classic.
The Celtic manager inspected the field at the national stadium yesterday as he and Rangers counterpart Michael Beale performed their media duties ahead of a huge encounter on Sunday, where the first silverware of the season will be on the line.
The SFA and SPFL pledged to invest in improving the surface after it was heavily criticised in the wake of the Viaplay Cup semi-finals in January, and for Postecoglou, it is vital they deliver on that promise not only for his team to play their best football, but for Celtic and Rangers to showcase the Scottish game in the best possible way.
“I hope so,” Postecoglou said.
“Obviously I want to win but you want to win a game that people talk about so hopefully it is.
“[The pitch] is definitely in better condition than it was on semi-final day and hopefully with the weather holding out over the next few days it should still be in much better condition.
“It’s a game everyone will be watching, not just within Scotland but all over the globe. The pitch is part of the event and you want to present it well. So, it looks okay.
“I think when you have been on a run like we have and with the consistency we have you have to overcome different challenges and the lads have been really good at overcoming whatever is before us.
“The whole pitch thing is not just a challenge, this is an event to showcase our football. You’ve got two good footballing teams and the pitch and the stadium are part of that event, and you want them to be presented well. Hopefully it looks good.”
Postecoglou’s squad list is certainly looking good with the news that Aaron Mooy and David Turnbull are back in the reckoning for Sunday’s game, with the Celtic boss not buying the theory that he now has a headache over his team selection.
“Turnbull and Mooy will train through the week, so as we sit right here right now they should be available,” he said.
“I know what you mean in terms of headaches but headaches for me would be if I’d half a dozen out injured. That would keep me up at night.
“To be honest I could go with three or four different formations and still be successful and look like a genius but he reality of it is we’ve got a really strong group of players, and whichever way I go I’m pretty confident in the fact that the boys who are out there will rise to the challenge.
“What we have seen, particularly since the start of the year, is that irrespective of who starts we’ll finish strong because the guys coming are making a big contribution.”
