Ange Postecolgou reckons ton-up Celtic played their best football of the year during their first-half blitz at Kilmarnock.
And the boss is thrilled his side are sprinting at full speed for the finishing line in the title race. Postecoglou’s side ripped apart Derek McInnes’ team in a blistering opening burst at Rugby Park as they smashed through the century mark for Premiership goals this term. Two goals from Matt O’Riley added to strikes from Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda moved them into 102 for the top-flight term and also 12 points clear again in the charge for the flag. Kyogo also missed a penalty during that savage beginning which had the manager purring.
Postecoglou said: “First half, the boys were outstanding. It was some of the best football we’ve played all year with the way we moved the ball and ourselves around the pitch. After last week’s win [over Rangers] you’re looking at where the focus is, but it was important we started with a good intent. IIt shows there’s a real good understanding within the group of the kind of team we want to be.
“You can talk in cliches about taking every game as they come, but they handled it in a responsible manner. The guys coming in helped. We brought players into a team doing well. They have got motivation, they want to perform well and it gives everyone a lift.”
Postecoglou admitted there were some sloppy parts after the restart, but, overall, the desire to produce a strong finish in the run for the trophy is just as he plans it. Celtic are still in line for a European top-flight points record if they finish with six more league wins. Asked about his team’s desire to sprint to glory, Postecoglou said: “I think so, and it is important, because in a perfect world, you design your team to play its best football at the most important part [of the season].
“That’s not discounting the fact that you’ve got to be in this position to start with, so we’ve had to be pretty strong all year. But this is the time of year when things get decided and you want to be playing your best football then. I thought the attitude was first-rate, it’s not an easy pitch to play on.
“It’s a difficult opponent desperate for points. You can come here and try to get three points and move on, but we came with an intent to play our football.”
Celtic were slick and quick on the Rugby Park surface again as they made light of the different underfoot conditions on the artificial grass. Killie’s strong home form has kept them in the battle for survival, but they were undone again by the champions elect.
Having won 5-0 in Ayrshire at the beginning of the season, Celtic were smooth again to hit another four goals at the venue. Previous Celtic squads had struggled on the pitch, but Postecoglou dismissed a change in approach as he said: “I wasn’t there then, so it’s no change.
“I don’t like the surfaces, it changes the nature of the game. But you can use it as a clutch for not playing the kind of football you want or see it as another challenge.
“That’s the attitude of these players from day one. Sometimes it’s the pitch, sometimes it’s the opposition, but we always stick to our principles. We were focused and worked hard for each other but our football should still be the same.”
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