Ange Postecoglou believes the clamour to get Scottish referee’s mic’d up won’t be the magic bullet to bring sanity back to our game.
The Celtic boss dismissed a growing demand to trial the technology and insisted respect for match officials always falls on deaf ears even if they are allowed to communicate decisions on the pitch. After the fall-out from last weekend’s Old Firm clash saw whistler Kevin Clancy subject to death threats and a torrent of on-line abuse, Postecoglou is adamant he’s already written off VAR as a cure to controversy and it’s not always good to talk.
He said: “It is not going to change anything. You either respect officialdom or you don’t – it is quite simple. Everyone thought VAR was the answer and as we have seen quite clearly it is not. It doesn’t diminish or eliminate debate. When so many or our laws come down to opinion, as they do just now, then you are always going to get debate. But that should always be kept respectful and kept in context of everything else that happens in a game of football.”
Celtic’s relentless pursuit of the title has opened up the chance to surpass the record set in the Brendan Rodgers era of 106 points with the world record sitting at 108 and Postecoglou admits it’s a motivation but his full attention is on banking another three against Kilmarnock this afternoon.
He said: “When you are having the kind of season we are having then those kinds of things come into play. Not least because when you start to get closer, everyone mentions them.
“But you also know that all of it will become irrelevant unless we can pick up three points against Kilmarnock on Sunday. As monotonous and as mundane as that sounds, it is the only way you get to achieve anything.
“You have to take it one step at a time because if you get too far ahead of yourself then you are liable to trip up. And when that happens you know you are going to get asked different types of questions.
"I would rather get asked about records on a weekly basis than getting asked why we didn’t have the focus on the weekend because we had let a game slip ?
“So that is where our head has been at. I know it is hard for people on the outside to grasp that but the group has been really good at understanding the greatest challenge is always the next one.
“In terms of motivation, it lies in trying to create something special in every single game. You can look to the finish line but why dismiss what is before you, the game ahead of you always provides an opportunity to create something special.
“You don’t want to waste a game in your football career because you never know what lies ahead. Any achievements will speak for themselves, our role is to make sure that come Sunday we are ready to go against a tough opponent at a difficult venue and try to pick up another three points.
“If these discussions continue then that means we are doing our job.”
Postecoglou revealed he’s putting contract talks with his current squad on the back-burner until the campaign is complete but he did offer words of praise to Joe Hart who’s deal expires next summer as he bids to become only the third player to win a clean sweep of trophies on both sides of the border.
He said: “He still has a fair way to go to get there but Joe has been outstanding for us. It is no secret that when I signed him I knew what I was getting as a goalkeeper but just as important was the kind of person he is.
“The way he has helped shape this team on and off the field. Obviously he went through a tough time before arriving here and hopefully he is enjoying his football a lot more now because it has been a mutually beneficial relationship between him and the club since.
“He has contributed greatly and I think the club has given back to him as well.”
