When Ange Postecoglou arrived as the manager of Celtic in the summer of 2021, there were big question marks over him. The Australian might have enjoyed success elsewhere, but he had never managed a top flight club in Europe until that point. On top of that, the Hoops were coming off of a terrible campaign and had fallen significantly behind the Rangers.
Thus, many had wondered whether Postecoglou had the ability to take Celtic back to the top of Scottish football. It did not take the Australian long to answer the critics though.
Celtic won the Premiership and League Cup double in his first season at the club. This time around, they already have one trophy in the bag, and a potential treble is still on the table. The Hoops are leading the league title race by nine points while they are in the Scottish Cup semi-finals where they will be taking on the Rangers.
There are no doubts about Postecoglou’s ability now. In fact, most rival fans probably cannot wait to see him leave.
Celtic boss slams rival manager’s claims
As reported by Glasgow Times, Hibernian manager Lee Johnson recently said:
"“If I was Ange, I’m thinking to myself at what point does it get too easy, almost?“I know that sounds bad, but you know generally if your boys are on it; listen – top manager, top club, top way or working, top philosophy but their challenge would feel like Europe and competing in the Champions League.“It’s up to clubs like us to make sure that when we do turn up at Parkhead that they are frightened of us more than they are at the moment.”"
Of course, in the past, Michael Beale has created quite a bit of controversy with his ‘lucky’ comments. As reported by The Scotsman, Postecoglou said while speaking in his pre-match press conference:
"“Every manager is allowed to use their platform in any way they want and say what they want. I don’t think it’s accidental that the words ‘lucky’ and ‘easy’ are used. They aren’t words I would use to describe any manager. If you are in this job, irrespective of anything, the one thing you know is that it’s not easy.“If people think I come in here at midday, spend a couple of hours, have a cappuccino and then go home to the family, then they are kidding themselves on. I think they know that, but the use of those words is probably deliberate. That’s fine. If that is what people believe, they are allowed to do that. What I know is that within this building, nothing comes easy for us.“We need to work hard and there are a lot of expectations on the players and the staff every day. That’s what we do. Whether that impresses others or doesn’t, the only thing we care about is our supporters – and they are pretty happy with how we are going. It’s pretty much known that we are playing under huge pressure every week. If other people think that’s easy in some way, then that’s their opinion.”"
There was nothing easy about Postecoglou’s job when he had arrived in Glasgow. He was expected to take Celtic back to the top of Scottish football, even though several key players had left that very summer and the Rangers appeared to be miles ahead, having finished 25 points clear in the previous season.
Postecoglou deserves immense credit for the job he has done. More credit than what he gets at times. If it looks easy from the outside, it is because he has made it look so.