If, as seems highly likely, this was farewell it was low key in nature. Ange Postecoglou refused to directly address speculation he will be named as Tottenham’s new manager in the lead-up to the Scottish Cup final. He was similarly vague after a domestic treble was secured with victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Everything, however, points towards Postecoglou pitching up in north London within days.
“Before you look ahead, you have to enjoy this,” Postecoglou said. “Everyone has worked very hard for this. They all deserve to enjoy this. Whatever is next will take care of itself.”
Asked directly whether he plans to be at Celtic next season, Postecoglou added: “I deserve to enjoy this. I’m not going to miss enjoying this moment. That’s all I’m going to focus on until someone grabs me by the collar and tells me I am going to have to answer some questions.” The subtext was perfectly plain.
Celtic remain Scottish football’s dominant force, with Postecoglou’s return a total of five trophies from a possible half dozen. He will argue he has done his bit. Celtic were in a state of disrepair when Postecoglou arrived.
The game will not live long in anybody’s memory. Celtic’s supporters, perhaps unsure how to handle the supposedly imminent departure of a manager they adore, were noticeably subdued. Postecoglou’s celebrations were not exactly wild either. There was also the underlying awareness that Inverness lacked the quality to punish slack moments in Celtic’s play, until the late goal which injected life into a pretty flat occasion. Jota pounced in stoppage time to allow the scoreline a more appropriate reflection of the game.
This cup run has been transformative for the finances of Inverness. It has also come with a touch of fortune. Queen’s Park defeated Inverness at the last 32 stage but were ejected from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. Inverness, who finished sixth in the second tier, went on to defeat Livingston, Kilmarnock and Falkirk.
Celtic dominated the opening exchanges without creating anything of note. In searing heat, it was reasonable to assume Inverness may wilt.
The intensity of the Inverness defensive approach was such that they barely crossed the halfway line. Celtic, in typical 4-3-3- format, had to somehow breach the resistance.
There had been little indication that would happen until Kyogo Furuhashi supplied a trademark run and finish. Matt O’Riley was the creator, with a ball across the face of goal which Furuhashi lashed home without breaking stride. This felt appropriate;the forward, who followed Postecoglou to Celtic from the Japanese league, has been the overriding success story of the Australian’s tenure. This was his 34th goal of the season and one of stunning quality. Seven minutes before the interval, Celtic had the advantage.
The strange thing about Furuhashi is he can have very little game involvement despite a prolific goal return. He was not particularly prominent before scoring or before making way for Oh Hyeon-gyu, shortly before the hour mark. By that point, Jota had wasted a fine opportunity to send the game beyond Inverness. The introduction of Oh’s physicality was designed to hand the Championship team different problems but Furuhashi had been an injury concern before this final anyway.
Liel Abada, another substitute, settled the outcome. John Beaton, the referee, is due credit for playing an advantage after Robbie Deas upended Oh during a swift Celtic break. The ball broke to Jota, who fed the captain, Callum McGregor. Abada was required only to tap in McGregor’s teasing cross across the face of goal. Inverness had a modicum of hope when only one behind; Celtic’s second slammed that door closed.
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Or did it? From nowhere, Inverness grabbed salvation. The substitute Daniel Mackay stooped to head past Joe Hart after a wonderful Wallace Duffy cross. Celtic’s defence had strangely left Mackay in blissful isolation.
It would be gross exaggeration to state Celtic were hanging on from there. In fact, Inverness did not create anything else. Sead Haksabanovic should have put the result beyond doubt but fired straight at the legs of the Inverness goalkeeper, Mark Ridgers. Enter Jota, who finished at the back post after Duffy had been unable to head clear a cross.
