Ange Postecoglou insists his sights are only on a Celtic Treble as Spurs get set to swoop for the Hoops gaffer.
Record Sport understands the English Premier League guns are preparing to make their move for the Aussie amid growing backing from influential heavy-hitters in London, such as former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. Postecoglou is hot property after two trophy laden years in Scotland following two decades of success in Australia and Japan.
But the 57-year-old has put all talk of his future on the back burner as he gets set to lift the Premiership crown against Aberdeen at Parkhead today before gearing up for next weekend’s Scottish Cup Final clash with Inverness and the chance of a domestic clean sweep. Postecoglou insisted the fevered Tottenham talk won’t distract him at the climax of a thrilling campaign.
He said: “No. It doesn’t because people hopefully know me well enough now and I have never thought about anything other than being present in where I am. That’s the only way I know to work.
“I have never charted a course for my career. There is no chance you could bridge the dots that brought me from Melbourne to Glasgow. It’s not something you can do, ‘In two or three years time I want to be there’.
“The only thing I have ever done is do the job I have as well as possible, have success and keep doing it until the circumstances change. For me, right now we have a big game on Saturday. It’s an important, special day when we get the trophy.
“Then we have the Cup Final. I'm not going to be distracted by things which are fascinating for other people but not myself. The Celtic fans want their manager to be concentrating on what is important to them now.
“I’d hate to think our supporters think I am thinking about something else other than having a good game on Saturday, and then winning the final. I want to win Treble and make it a special year, and that’s where my responsibilities lie.”
Postecoglou has been linked with a string of jobs in England this season – including Brighton, Leeds and Everton. The former Socceroos boss has been considered by several of the sides, but the interest from Spurs is understood to be more concrete.
But when asked if he was flattered by the attention, Postecoglou said: “Well, if you seek that kind of thing. That doesn’t really rock my boat. Being on the back pages of papers isn’t what drives me.
“All I have ever tried to do is the job I have to the best of my ability, bring success and rejoice in that. Not worry about what happens next, or when it happens, or if it happens. When you do that, you miss the opportunity of where you are at right now.”
Postecoglou admitted he couldn’t predict the future – but he insisted he is relishing his time in Scotland. He said: “I love the passion of Scottish football, the competitiveness of it. Every week there’s a battle to be had and I love that aspect of it.
“It’s in the fabric of society. Your football club is not just a team you support, it’s more than that to people here.
“Everywhere I’ve been, there’s stuff that frustrates you but, with my overwhelming passion for the game and the competitiveness of it, the stuff that grates or irritates just pales into insignificance. I love what I do, and I love all of it – even the bits that sometimes get me irritable. The alternative is I’m sitting at home and no one’s bugging me about anything – I don’t want that.”
Postecoglou added the Scottish Football Writers Association manager of the year to his PFA and Cinch Premiership gongs. He said: “I am very chuffed with the whole thing. It’s great recognition.
“We became champions but it was also about the manner in which we played. I am just not a great one at reflecting on these things – I kinda move on pretty quickly.
“They will be on the mantelpiece of whatever house we are at, and then when we move they get packed away. Then we go from there but I don’t dismiss it because it’s recognition for everyone, including people who support me. I just think about what’s next.”
Meanwhile Postecoglou revealed Alistair Johnston will face the Dons today and Sead Haksabanovic is winning his Hampden fitness battle today, but Aaron Mooy is struggling to make the Final with a back problem.
