In December 2019, Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 within the closing of the League Cup. Overnight, the 2 bitter Glasgow rivals met within the closing for the primary time since that conflict – and Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic emerged 2-1 victors in one other huge win for the Hoops.
Just one participant, captain Callum McGregor, remained in Celtic’s beginning XI from that assembly three-and-a-half years in the past. It is an indication of how transformative the Australian’s time in Celtic has been.
Postecoglou’s males lead the league by 9 factors with 12 matches remaining, a margin that has by no means been overhauled prior to now, whereas Celtic are into the final eight within the Scottish Cup. A treble is a definite risk.
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Slater heaps reward on Ten Hag/Ange | 05:27
“You begin each season hoping it’s a particular season,” stated Postecoglou.
“But we’ll get pleasure from tonight and it’s essential we rejoice tonight as a result of the workers and the gamers, everybody on the soccer membership have labored exhausting for this.
“The supporters too should rejoice this second. But, as soon as we’ve carried out that in the best manner, we’ll deal with subsequent week in opposition to St Mirren.”
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Last month, Ranges supervisor Michael Beale raised the hackles of Celtic followers by calling Postecoglou ‘fortunate’ for the deep pockets at his disposal – cash that solely Rangers come near matching within the Scottish league.
Beale stated: “We don’t spend probably the most cash on this nation. Celtic have made three signings and persons are asking: ‘Are you going to make three?’ No, we’ll do what we expect. But additionally, they spend much more cash than us.
“So Ange is a fortunate man as a result of he’s spent some huge cash. He’s an excellent coach – however he’s spent some huge cash.”
The second Celtic received the ultimate at Hampden Park, former Celtic striker turned commentator Chris Sutton sarcastically stated: “Lucky Ange”. He wasn’t the one one, with former Socceroo and Celtic star Scott McDonald additionally twisting the knife in Rangers followers.
Postecoglou now has two wins and a attract three conferences with the membership’s largest rivals this season, and 4 wins, two attracts and two losses in opposition to Rangers all-time.
He additionally has three trophies in lower than two years at his new membership – and fairly merely reveals no indicators of letting up.
Addressing followers exterior Celtic’s stadium after his group returned in triumph, he praised the group earlier than saying: “They have been sensible right now and have proven what this soccer membership is about. We win and we win the best manner which is a very powerful factor.
“We will get pleasure from tonight, the gamers will get pleasure from tonight. I hope you all get pleasure from tonight after which we go once more as a result of we by no means cease.”
Former Rangers gun Neil McCann stated: “There’s just one driver at Celtic. Ange is in entrance – and I don’t see him stopping.
“He’s been an excellent acquisition for the membership. His drive for fulfillment and software ranges have been fairly unimaginable.”
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Speaking on Fox Sports News, Socceroos nice Robbie Slater stated: “The home treble is nicely inside their attain.
“Aaron Mooy was excellent, the Australian midfielder. Kyogo (Furuhashi) acquired each targets, Mooy had an enormous hand in each of them.
“Rangers caught in it, however there’s a little bit of a gulf between Celtic and Rangers in the intervening time.
“You can see that within the league, they’re 9 factors clear. They’re gonna win that. Then it’ll be as much as if they’ll get the (Scottish) Cup (for the treble).”
Ange Postecoglou congratulates Kyogo Furuhashi on the closing whistle.Source: Getty Images
Postecoglou has continuously been linked to different golf equipment – notably within the Premier League – on the again of his spectacular work at Celtic.
Recently, that has included rumours of a transfer to Leeds, who sacked American coach Jesse Marsch after a yr in cost earlier than turning to Spaniard Javi Gracia on a ‘versatile’ contract. Far from Leeds’ first alternative, he’s unlikely to be the pinnacle coach subsequent season – even when he does rescue them from relegation.
But Slater believes Postecoglou is unlikely to go to a relegation-threatened aspect in England’s high flight, the place it’s uncertain he would obtain the time it takes to implement his high-octane fashion of soccer.
Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou lifts the Viaplay Cup.Source: Getty Images
Slater says: “I feel Ange will probably be the place he needs to be, the way in which it’s going … He’s in a really comfy place.
“People discuss concerning the EPL, I’m certain he can go to the EPL. But I feel the membership must be proper. I don’t assume would go to a struggling membership the place relegation could be an enormous risk.
“It is perhaps in his thoughts to create a dynasty at Celtic, to go and win plenty of titles in a spot the place he’s comfy and he’s liked.”
