Ange Postecoglou is adamant Celtic won’t be fooled into thinking the title is already theirs if they overcome Rangers.
The reigning champions can establish a 12 point gap over their city rivals with victory at Parkhead this afternoon, a significant step towards securing a second consecutive championship. The Celtic manager is not interested in suggestions the fixture is more important to their Ibrox rivals, although even a draw would keep the leaders on course to cross the finish line first.
But you will not find Postecoglou, who revealed Reo Hatate and Liel Abada will miss the game through injury, setting his team up for the pragmatic outcome.
“Three points, mate,” replied Postecoglou after being asked what’s at stake. “I don’t say that flippantly, but nothing gets decided this weekend, regardless of the outcome. If we do win it puts some distance between us and second and that can have a bearing on the end of the season.
“But nothing gets decided this weekend. We have been very good at focusing on what the challenge is in front of us.
“What’s before us now is the team who are closest to us in the table. We have an opportunity at home to extend that lead and that’s what we will try to do.
“At the end we will see if that brings a result and a performance. It’s fair to say we won’t be playing for a draw. Why wouldn’t we want to win a game of football?
“I never have thought that before. If there’s a game, I want to win it.”
Postecoglou admitted his disappointment for Hatate, who announced himself as a Celtic player with two goals in the February 2022 derby at Parkhead. But Celtic do have Aaron Mooy and Greg Taylor back in contention to start.
“I’m disappointed for Reo more than anything else, as he loves playing in these games,” Postecoglou said. “He’s played well in these games and he’s always had an impact. But we have Aaron back and we have some good quality in the midfield area.”
