The home dressing room door at Parkhead stayed closed for longer than usual as Ange Postecoglou held a minor post-game inquest after Saturday’s rare points spillage against Motherwell.
The Hoops boss didn’t need to read any riot acts given his side have the Premiership title in their sights. But Postecoglou knows this is not the time to go off the boil with the pressure about to heat up at Hamden on Sunday. The Hoops boss is well aware of what’s at stake against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final showdown, with his side chasing down a trophy clean sweep this season.
Celts were a little laboured in the Well stalemate but midfielder Tomoki Iwata quietly impressed again to throw himself into the mix for a start at the National Stadium this weekend. The former Yokohama F Marinos anchorman insisted Postecoglou’s debrief hit the mark and the Hoops will be more like their old selves when they square up to their fierce foes. Iwata said: “We definitely have time until the next game. We just have to review what happened in this game and try again to do our attractive football.
“Getting a result is very important. Every minute in the game is going to be important for us. So we will try to take the opportunity to do everything we can.”
Iwata only joined in January but he already knows what is at stake in these derby collisions. He got a taste in the Viaplay Cup Final and in the Old Firm win at Celtic Park last month – and he’s hungry for more.
Iwata insisted he can handle the heat and while Hampden will rock, the cool operator is not rolling up as a tourist. He said: “I enjoy the pressure because this is something you don’t really get often.
“I enjoy it. But at the same time, I just want to perform well in each game. That’s what I need to do in the following games. I have played twice in the derby, in the League Cup final and in the league derby here at home.
“There were very good atmospheres in both of the games. Of course, though, it’s very important that we get the result. It’s not just about playing in a good atmosphere. Personally, I just need to prepare as well as I can for the next game.”
Iwata has been given time to settle after a full season in Japan where he won the title and picked up his nation’s player of the year gong. The 25-year-old doesn’t sit around admiring his awards though – as his focus is on adding to his collection at Celtic.
Iwata said: “Of course, winning titles in Japan and getting the player of the year award was pretty precious to me. Coming here, though, I had to switch my head again. Now I’m with Celtic, I’m trying to achieve something here but nothing has been done yet.”
Iwata knows the performance against Motherwell won’t cut it when the take on Rangers. Celts were not at their slick best and couldn’t find a killer second goal after Callum McGregor fired the first half opener.
They paid the price when Kevin van Veen pounced to pinch a point bit it will be a different story on Sunday. Iwata said: “I was disappointed to only draw the match. Everything started from the period after we scored our first goal, because we couldn’t score another one.
“We made the game difficult by ourselves. We believe we are putting 100 per cent into every game. Our football is very attractive, I think. We put in 100 per cent and we just try to win the game every time.”
Iwata looked the part again though, but he demands more of himself. Hoops teammate Matt O’Riley branded him a tank but he wants to be more than just a midfield fighter.
He said: “It doesn’t have to be just about the one versus one battles. I need to improve every bit of my performance so I always want to get better on a daily basis.
“Personally speaking, I couldn’t get involved as much as I wanted in the attacking situations during the match. I think I have to improve on that in the future.
“As a team, as I said before, we should have created more chances. Also, from the chances we did create, we should have scored. That’s what I think was missing in comparison with the last few games.”
Postecoglou let his men know it as well. The Aussie could have shrugged this one off. Celtic went in having won 17 domestic games on the bounce, 12 in a row in the league and dropped points for only the third time this season.
With five games to go, they can still beat the record 106 points total set by Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles. But Postecoglou has got his side this far because he doesn’t just brush off below par displays – hence the lock in after the final whistle.
He said: “The players know my thoughts. They boys have set a pretty high benchmark, but they fell short. I don’t think that masks how disappointed we were, the players and certainly me.
“It’s fair to say the boys have been on an unbelievable run. You know in football, those kinds of things come to an end at some point. You understand that. But there were elements within the game we were still disappointed with and we need to do better.
“It’s a matter of reviewing Saturday, licking our wounds, taking our lessons and getting ready for a big game.”
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