ANGE POSTECOGLOU has told his Celtic players to forget about their glamour tie against Real Madrid next week until they have taken care of business against Livingston, saying that the Premiership is always the priority over the Champions League.
Celtic’s hopes of progression in European football this season are already over, with the draw against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night meaning they will definitely finish bottom of Group F, no matter how their last match in Group F goes on Wednesday evening.
But the Celtic manager says that the league match at the Tony Macaroni Arena tomorrow lunchtime would always have taken precedence over the trip to the Bernabeu in any case.
“We know what game is most important – and it’s the next game,” Postecoglou said.
“We’ve had a really hectic schedule and we've had to stay focused. Our form in the league has been really strong.
“Particularly when you go to a place like Livingston, you need to have all your attention on the task ahead.
“If you start to look beyond then you are going to slip up. If you look at what we have done in the league so far, that would be a backwards step.
“The only thing we are looking at is Livingston and hopefully getting the job done.
“Our priority is the league every year – because that’s how you qualify for the Champions League.
“I said this week; our job is not to be in the Champions League every five years. Our job is to be a Champions League side every year – and that means winning the league.
“That will always be our priory as long as I’m here. The league is our number one target because that gives us the platform to grow as a football team.
“That won’t change irrespective of other competitions we are in, the league is our priority.”
