‘WE never stop’ may be the slogan that has come to typify Ange Postecoglou’s reign at Celtic so far, and the philosophy the manager imparts upon his team, but the mantra of never resting on your laurels has been ingrained in the club since time immemorial.
Perhaps that is why the marriage between Celtic and Postecoglou has been such a harmonious one to date, with the club identifying a leader whose own ethos reflects their own, and one who could get them back on the track of a relentless pursuit of excellence they had somewhat veered from during the dire season that preceded his arrival.
Postecoglou will enter his own second season at the club with a different set of expectations to live up to as the price of that previous success, after exceeding the low bar that many had set for him after arriving in Glasgow last June. Progress along with trophies will now be demanded, rather than simply being hoped for.
As with most things since his arrival in Scotland though, former Celtic striker Scott McDonald expects his compatriot to take that heightened expectation in his stride, and in fact, he believes it will be Postecoglou who will be driving his players on to take this team to the next level.
That means success not only on the domestic front, but in Europe’s premier competition as well, with Postecoglou sure to be setting his sights on taking Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League.
“I think the one word that you always put to Ange - and he's said it - is relentless” McDonald told Celtic TV.
“That is Ange all over the back from what I believe and from what I've seen and how he talks and what he wants. He's so hungry for more, he never stops. ‘We never stop’, That's the motto now, isn't it?' And rightly so, because that's his mentality and that's what he epitomises and wants to embody in his team and in this club.
“So, I think, he wants everything next year. He wants qualification to the last-16 of the Champions League. He'll want to put his stamp on European football and being a European-level manager.
“So, he'll have his goals, but he'll have his goals more for the players than himself, it's not about Ange, has never been one for that. He gets into the players heads and wants them to succeed and perform - that's his role”
When Postecoglou arrived at Celtic just over a year ago now, the reaction in Scotland among both fans and the media was lukewarm at best, given his previously low profile in European football.
That may have been expected, but for all that some may have been dismissive of Postecoglou’s credentials on this side of the world, there was an equal disdain of the Scottish football down under, even if there was excitement around one of their own landing a job at such an illustrious club.
Similarly though, the respect that Postecoglou has won in Scottish football has been reciprocated, with his profile bringing the game here a heightened level of credibility on the other side of the planet.
“I think for everyone involved in Australian football, when the noises started coming around that Ange was linked with the job and that he could possibly get it, the excitement that came across Australia in terms of the media perspective was massive,” McDonald said.
“The credibility that guy has and had before coming into this club was elite level. But obviously being an Australian playing in the world game, we're not very renowned in doing so apart from playing the game.
“But I think we all soon found out very quickly in terms of who the guy was and what he was all about. He was a superb signing by the club and in a time when the club was in certain need for leadership as well.
“We could see Ange has that in abundance and the experience and the success that he's had over his career, regardless of where it was, he's always been a winner and he's always won everywhere he's gone. And, he's continued that success here at Celtic.”
The excitement in Australia over Postecoglou’s burgeoning success at Celtic grew as the season progressed, reaching fever pitch as his side clinched the league title with a draw against Dundee United at Tannadice. Particularly in the McDonald household.
“It was a late night for sure,” he said. “It was a very late night, obviously, to watch the game itself. But it was wonderful.
“What an amazing achievement and it was a proud moment for Australia and the way it was celebrated. I've never seen anything like that. Now, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon and everyone's now a supporter of Scottish football.
“It wasn't always like that with Australian media. They were very negative at times about the Scottish game.
“So, it's nice to see some plaudits and positivity and it's great for the Scottish game as well that it's getting the exposure in Australia now.
“This was always going to be a wonderful opportunity for Ange particularly at a club the size of Celtic, and you know the opportunity to win trophies because there's always that opportunity to do so at Celtic if you get it right.
“It's truly remarkable in terms of the turnaround the where the club were at the end of the previous season.
“He's come into a blank space and with no staff and he's got to know everyone. He's embraced everyone. And it just shows the true sign of the man and the confidence and the aura that he possesses to be able to do that.
“You need to be a certain individual to be able to do that, I believe. He’s certainly one that's showing those qualities and being different and being special.”
