Ange Postecoglou admits he’s humbled to have the chance of emulating Celtic’s Treble icons.
The Parkhead manager stands on the brink of being just the fifth boss in the club’s decorated history to complete a domestic clean sweep. Postecoglou’s Viaplay Cup winners can add the Premiership title for a second-successive year if they beat Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow. Celtic are also into a Scottish Cup Final against Inverness and the gaffer has an opportunity to emulate Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon.
Postecoglou is taking it one step at a time, but knows it could be a monumental spell for him and his players as he said: “We have given ourselves a great opportunity of making it a special season. We haven’t done it yet. but the fact we are in the position is a credit to everyone involved. It is not something that is taken for granted and it is our job to finish.
“It is a fantastic prize at the end of it to know you’ve been part of something special, but equally humbling because you know that it has been done before at this football club and that’s the expectations and you can’t just rest on those laurels.
“For anyone to be involved in a season where you can win all your domestic trophies, if it happens and that is our goal, it is something I’ll treasure and so will everyone involved.
“We have given ourselves a great platform to achieve some pretty special things and have a special season. Now we have to perform at the levels we have to bring it home.”
Although he’s out of the Tynecastle trip, Postecoglou has confirmed that Alistair Johnston could be back for the Hampden date with the Highlanders after the Canadian sustained an injury against Rangers last weekend and left the stadium on crutches.
The manager also confirmed Cameron Carter-Vickers will be back for the start of next season after undergoing successful knee surgery.
Postecoglou said: “Alistair obviously got a significant knock last week, but we are still hopeful he will play some part before the end of season. It is a kind-of week by week thing and we have to make a decision as we go along.
“With Cameron, he has already had the surgery and it all went well. The earlier he had it, the better chance he had of being ready for the start of next season.
“But, at the same time, he was really keen to be involved up until last weekend with such a big game, and in terms of what it meant for our season as a semi-final.
“I was really guided by him in the end, he was the one to tell us when the right time was. But he was never going to go beyond last weekend because I want to make sure he is right for the start of the season, so for us it is a good outcome.”
Postecoglou, meanwhile, has had his say on the kick-off time change to 5.30pm for the Final on June 3 to avoid a clash with the FA Cup Final.
He said: “I guess it doesn’t make a difference because we are still going to play the game, just at a different time. I don’t know, the Scottish Cup is one of those prestigious competitions, it ends the season at a certain date, at a certain time.
“I’m a traditionalist in a lot of those things, I love them because they provide historical context for why it is played on the last day and at that time. I’m not too involved in the logistics for supporters, but for the Inverness supporters, it is more of a challenge.
“I would have loved to have had it as it was. I don’t like these things being messed about. But, at the end of the day, that is the decision and we just have to get on it and make sure we play our football.”
