Carl Starfelt admits he WON'T be taking ten days off like his Celtic team-mates as he opened up on that Ange Postecoglou clip from his Australia days.
The Hoops defender is still finding his way back to full fitness after an extended period on the sidelines. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Moritz Jenz have mostly played alongside each other in the heart of the backline with the big Swede missing but now he is back he wants to use the Premiership shutdown to put in a real graft and get his match fitness back.
He plans to get away but will keep training as he bids to come back from the World Cup shutdown at the races. The Hoops lead Rangers at the top by nine points and there will be a new manager in the dugout across Glasgow following Giovanni van Brockhorst's Ibrox sacking.
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Speaking about his injury return, he said: “I am delighted with every minute.
“I need to get up to 100 per cent match fitness. I am happy with this little break and I can really put in a shift and get my match fitness back.
“The team is taking ten days off, but I’ll keep working as I need it. I haven’t played a lot of football in six months because of injury, so I will work hard to get my fitness back.
“I will basically keep training. I will go away as well, but I’ll train where I am. Pre-season was tough. I thought I would get back when the season started and then obviously the second blow was really tough.
“But I am back on the pitch now and I am happy about that. It’s tough, especially with the Champions League and missing a lot of games. That was something I was looking forward to a lot.
“I am just happy to be back and I am looking forward.
“The competition for places is very good. We have really good players and that makes for strong competition, not only in the centre-back positions, but almost every position.
“That is how the manager wants it and that is how you push the players to never relax and always try to improve their game. I think that is what is happening.
“It brings out the best in every player and you can never relax as you have to be at it all the time and that is a good thing, for sure."
A clip of boss Postecoglou did the rounds on social media as part of a documentary on his homecoming to Australia during Celtic's Sydney Super Cup trip.
And when asked about it, Starfelt added: "Have I seen it? Yes!
"He is a really good manager and he knows what he wants. If someone falls out of it he will push them back into it. I think most of the boys have experienced the temper at some point.
"The manager sets high standards and I think that’s how it should be.
"Every player pushing for Celtic and more should have high standards. If you throw players excuses then they will have them. You have to go out there and perform no matter the circumstances."
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