Ange Postecoglou has become a cult favourite amongst Celtic fans, after doing an incredible job since arriving at Parkhead. The manager took a side that was coming off of a disaster 2020/21 campaign to a Premiership and League Cup double. And now, he has them leading the league by five points and also playing Champions League football.
While Celtic have signed many brilliant players over the past few transfer windows, Postecoglou has become the face of the transformation that has taken place at the club. Naturally, people down south have taken notice.
Postecoglou has been linked heavily with the Brighton & Hove Albion job recently. And when asked about it before the game against Shakhtar Donetsk, the manager pointed out that his complete focus was on the job at hand at Celtic, but interestingly, he did not dismiss the rumours with The Seagulls.
Celtic fans would have been hoping for a clearer denial from Postecoglou on the matter, as the manager is mostly very straightforward when speaking to the media. Former Liverpool star, Danny Murphy, was not particularly impressed either. While speaking on talkSPORT and as reported by The Scotsman, he said:
"“I like him but I think it’s poor. I don’t like it, it stinks of keeping your options open.“He should have said, I can put that to bed, I’m here. I’m at a big club, I’ve got Champions League to focus on. I’m here for the season.“He hasn’t said, ‘don’t worry I’m not leaving. Don’t worry I’m here’. He has not said, ‘I am not going to Brighton and I will not entertain the idea’.“Of course he is [focused on being successful here], everyone is everyday. I’ve read it all three times and my interpretation is, if I’m a Celtic fan I don’t see him saying to me – don’t worry, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t care whether Brighton are coming in, I don’t care if Bayern Munich are coming in. Right now, I’m here.“I’ll tell you what this stinks of to me – and I like him by the way – it wouldn’t surprise me if Brighton are in for him. That suggests to me that he might be keeping his options open.”"
Postecoglou criticised for Brighton & Hove Albion comments amid Celtic exit links
Graham Potter did a brilliant job at Brighton & Hove Albion but recently left to join Chelsea. And it is not hard to see why they might be interested in someone like Postecoglou, who has built a reputation for championing attacking football while also producing consistent success.
Celtic fans will be hoping that Postecoglou remains at the club for the foreseeable future. And to be honest, he could have been much clearer with his answer regarding the Brighton & Hove Albion rumours.
It did sound like a measured answer on his part. But at the same time, it is very possible that there was absolutely nothing to it and people are just reading into it too much.