Remember when Ange Postecoglou and Michael Beale were forced to sit next to each other and do a joint photoshoot before the League Cup final?
With just days to go until Celtic and Rangers lock horns in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final, let’s take a look back at what was quite possibly one of the most awkward Old Firm moments in history.
In the run-up to the 2022/23 League Cup final, relations between the managers were particularly prickly after Beale branded the Celtic boss “a lucky man”, suggesting he had more money to spend on players.
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Postecoglou was clearly irked by the comments made just weeks before the sides were set to meet in February’s final and hit back at the phrase in a number of interviews between then and the end of the season.
In a bizarre set-up at Hampden ahead of the game, both rival managers were left looking somewhat uncomfortable at being forced to sit next to each other for a brief photo before conducting their respective press conferences.
Beale and Postecoglou were then sent to carry out a joint photoshoot with the trophy on the Hampden turf, with footage of the awkward encounter going viral on social media.
Celtic went on to lift the cup after Kyogo Furuhashi's brace sealed a 2-1 victory – a repeat of his double from the final the season before.
The Old Firm foes will enter battle once again on Sunday, with holders Rangers hoping to retain the trophy after seeing off Aberdeen in last year’s final.
In-form Celtic hold an 11-point lead over Philippe Clement’s side in the Scottish Premiership table and are yet to lose a league game this season.
And there is even more added spice to this weekend’s clash, with the winners able to claim the most all-time trophies in their 136-year rivalry.
Both clubs are tied on 118 trophies each – and Celtic could overtake Rangers for the first time in 86 years if they win at Hampden.
