Ange Postecoglou was catching a coffee with Gio van Bronckhorst - but that Celtic and Rangers respect has slipped with Michael Beale.
That's the opinion of Hoops hero Peter Grant, who has been looking ahead to the pair's meeting in the Viaplay Cup final on Sunday. Since taking over from Van Bronckhorst last year, Beale has called his Celtic counterpart a 'lucky man' for the budget he has at his disposal and it's a quip Postecoglou has since used in press duties.
While not directly tangling with the Australian, the Rangers manager has since been caught in a war of words with Parkhead favourite and Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton. Grant gets why Beale is doing this, a contrasting approach to the Dutchman he's succeeded, who often played it coy and was even spotted in a coffee shop with his rival. But the former Dunfermline boss says it comes at a cost of some favour from Postecoglou who has more bang for his buck currently.
He told Go Radio when talking about respect amid the rivalry: "You talk about the managers, Jock Wallace and Jock Stein, Tommy Burns and Walter Smith, Billy McNeil and John Greig, that was part of it, everybody knew who they represented. I think they have lost a bit of that.
"I enjoyed that when Ange and Gio did their bit, I think they were always very respectful to each other and I am not so sure that has been the case since Michael has come out with some throwaway comments.
"I know why at times you are doing that. You are trying to curry favour with the supporters and say the right things for your own supports. But the proof is in the pudding and that's with the trophies you win, and so far the manager of Celtic is well out in front."
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