Ange Postecoglou

Here is a stat that backs this up... 15 goals in the last 15min of league games this season (10 of which away from home) - by far the most productive 15min period when its broken down this season.

 

Absolutely certain he used the phrase “super swell” to describe his contentment at scoring 200 goals since he took over.

I shall now be using “super swell” to describe good things from now on.

 

7 games we have won by scoring in the last 15 minutes. Mental really, but an amazing mentality that you don't stop just carry on and the goods will come

 

It's like they're doing it on purpose. Mental warfare against the huns, where we look like dropping points then bam! Winner to deflate them!

 

Celtic’s fixture calendar is back to its congested self, with the 1-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday the start of a run of five games in just more than two weeks for the Hoops.

Entering the World Cup break in mid-November in a strong place in the league table, Celtic’s return to action at Pittodrie saw Ange Postecoglou’s team continue the fine form that saw them win 14 out of 15 games prior to the break.

While the football is back at a frantic rate, the manager says the only way to successfully navigate the festive period is by focusing fully on the upcoming opponent, and that is Livingston at home on Wednesday night.

Asked if this month’s games are a more vital period than others, the manager said: “No more or less than any other period.


I think what was important for us was that we started off resuming after the break in a good place, and for that to happen we needed a good performance and a positive result, and both of those things happened.

“Hopefully that gets us up and running again and for us, we try and focus on what our next challenge is.

'My planning and coaching staff know the congestion of fixtures coming up and we have a strong squad of players, and the way we address it is to focus to on Livingston.'

“What happens after that, we deal with after the game.”

The fixture against Aberdeen saw a return for three of the four World Cup stars for Celtic, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda starting and Aaron Mooy on the bench.

Alongside bronze medal winner Josip Juranovic, and new recruit Alistair Johnston, each of the Hoops' contingent performed impressively in Qatar, and the manager was delighted with their performances, and the final that gripped the world.

Looking back on the tournament, he said: “It’s been the talk around here and around the world.

“It was a cracking final, it’s what football is all about, scripts you can’t write, endings you can’t believe.

“(Our players) come back with more belief and motivation because, depending on where they are in their careers, they will want more of that.

'They want to take that experience and grow as footballers and people, and I guess for the whole group it shows that what we do here and how we are training and playing transfers well when you’re playing against the best.'

The manager confirmed that Josip Juranovic will return to training next week following on from his third-placed play-off victory on Saturday.

The tournament also showcased the skills of Maeda, so often utilised out wide for Celtic, as a central striker for Japan, and it’s something the manager hasn’t ruled out seeing this season at Celtic Park.

He added: “He can definitely play there. I used him a fair bit there at Yokohama and he’s very effective down the middle with his pressing.

“For us, it’s a good option to have and obviously we have two very good strikers in Kyogo and Giorgos Giakoumakis carrying most of the load and, knock on wood, we’ve been very strong in maintaining our players on the field and not having too many injuries.

“Having Daizen as an option through the middle, I think Liel can play through the middle at times, it just means we have cover if we need to.

“There will be times and maybe this year where we will put Daizen through the middle, but he’s certainly capable of playing a central role










Ange Postecoglou insists Celtic have received no offers or interest in Josip Juranovic or any other squad member ahead of the January transfer window.


The Croatian full-back has been the subject of increased speculation in recent weeks after he starred at the World Cup to land a third-place medal with his country.

Barcelona were the latest team to be quoted as interested yesterday, while there is also said to be Premier League interest from down south.

Postecoglou refused to be drawn to the reports in his pre-Livingston press conference as he looked ahead to the Premiership fixture




He said: "All this speculation. What I can tell you now is that we don't have an offer for any player.

"People can talk about offers and clubs wanting but I can't spend my time chasing shadows of what is in the press every morning. I would be spending my whole day talking to players.

"What I see is what is before me at training every day, if players have things put in front of them about their future I am sure they will come and see me and Michael will speak to their representatives.


"But right now there is nothing, zero, zip, nada, nothing going on."

He continued: "I don't have any sort of confidence or lack of confidence about our players.

"They are all here and they are all training. Josip isn't back yet, he had a great World Cup, he was brilliant and credit to him.

"He has a memory now that he will have forever. He represented our football club really well as did all our boys at the World Cup.

"He has a week off now and then he will be back training next week and will be ready to go."

 

Hahaha. Love a good ange rant at how * the media's questions and outlooks are.

 

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has shot down "comparisons" from other Premiership players and managers between his side and Rangers.

The 57-year-old was speaking ahead of the Parkhead club taking on Livingston where they will have the opportunity to further underline their domestic dominance this season.

But it's not all sweetness and light for the Aussie as he expressed his frustrations at the way the two teams are discussed by some people in the Scottish game

He said: "The curious thing I find and it is more to do with language in general. It is driven somewhat by you guys in the media but I also hear opposition coaches saying it.

"Before we play teams, some opposition players can't seem to differentiate between us and Rangers at all.

"It is almost like when you play the top two this is what happens.

"Some of them even talk about it like it is an excursion, like 'you go through Glasgow and this is what you expect.'


"I don't get that because if I referred to all the other teams as the other 10 then I am not paying respect to the fact that Livingston are going to be a different challenge tomorrow to St Johnstone at the weekend."




The ex-Socceroos boss also detailed the way in which both the Hoops and the Light Blues differ from one another.

"Even if they both play defensively it will be different," he continued.

"Playing them at home is different to playing them away.

"We approach every game like it is a jump race in racing, where you respect every hurdle and don't worry about the next one.

"I just find it very curious and if people are assuming because something does or doesn't work against Rangers that it is then going to be a reflection [against us].

"Different types of players and we play in different ways and that is where the discussion should be."

 

That answer was top class. Spot on. Shows how narrow minded, limited and parochial the opposition, managers and media are in this country at times.

Anyone that compares Celtic to the huns in terms of football style (and anything else really) really needs to give their head a wobble. Not even close. But that's what happens when you get media (PR /hacks) asking pointless questions.

 

To think a few years ago the press would try and mostly unsettle previous managers



Not with Ange seeing them for what they are

 

That's it. He sees them coming a mile off...shrugs them off without breaking stride or focus. Then brings it back to our football!

Maybe I'm being harsh on media and managers...beaten by Ange in the press conferences before a balls kicked constantly cannae be good for the morale.

What a man.

 

That wee * Ange shuts down all the time too


English guy Gabriel from plz soccer I think it is

 

Clyde 1 mate, ange * hates him you can tell

 

I'm surprised they even send that gimp anymore. Ange has slaughtered him repeatedly..

They can't get near him..