21-22 was always about winning and not just rebuilding says Celtic boss Postecoglou

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Ange Postecoglou has explained that his first year at Celtic was never to be about just rebuilding for the long-term.

The Greek-Aussie manager was known, prior to joining Celtic, for building formidable squads and winning silverware his way. At Brisbane Roar, he revitalised an ageing squad and set a new precedent for A League success. In Japan, his Yokohama F Marinos team required extensive work before winning a J League title.

You’d be forgiven for thinking Ange would have some pressure off in his first season, given the rebuild. However, the manager has explained that’s just not the case.

He’s building a squad aiming at success for both the present and the future. Recent signings, all in their early 20s, have indicated this. Matt O’Riley is 21, while Hatate, Maeda and Ideguchi are 24, 24 and 25 respectively.

Postecoglou has said he had a specific approach in mind. This season is by no means a “free hit”. He said [Herald]: “I get that I am judged on immediate success and I understood that, but I have always loved building teams for the medium to long term. Getting a group of like-minded staff and players together.

“We are bringing in guys who I think have their best football ahead of them. Hopefully, they can grow together and achieve good things. This year is about bringing them to the club and forming a bond with the ones who are remaining. Understanding the club and building a team that is going to be successful for a number of years.

“To me, that’s the most important thing, but I also understood pretty clearly I couldn’t just have this year as a building process. We had to have some success this year and that is what we built towards.”

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou wants best of both worlds

In hindsight, viewing this kind of season as experimental, or transitional, just isn’t in Celtic’s nature whatsoever. It’s perfectly understandable to have had that view, given the situation at the club, but when you hire a winner, and you have the resources Celtic do?

You should be aiming to win everything you can.

That’s the reality of it. Given we already have one trophy in the bag, and are just 4 points off the top of the table, it’s easier to say now. However, Celtic hired a winner in Ange Postecoglou, and though the mandate was extremely challenging, he’s doing an excellent job.

Some managers might’ve gone exclusively for talent with potential and resale value. Others might’ve relied solely on experience, on short-term deals, to get Celtic back to the summit. There are countless ways that countless managers could’ve approached Celtic in the summer.

Getting the best of both, adding experience and youthful vitality, is hard to do. You need a manager with charisma and a strong captain to make that work. Happily, Celtic have both at hand.

This particular job, at this particular time, would’ve scared off even the most reputable managers.

In the last two years, giving credit to the Celtic board for anything feels a bit rich. But you’ve got to say, hiring Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager was an absolute masterstroke.

Read more: “Possibility”; Celtic boss Postecoglou on the chance of pulling a Derby selection shock