Celtic will take part in a training session on the artificial pitch at Lennoxtown tomorrow in preparation for the match against Livingston on Sunday.
David Martindale’s side play at home on a notorious plastic surface that has drawn the ire of footballers and managers up and down the country.
Ange Postecoglou has never used it as an excuse for not implementing the Bhoys’ style of football in West Lothian, but did share today that they will take part in a rare session at the training centre.
Speaking in a press conference today, when asked if the pitch alters preparation or team selection [Celtic YouTube], the Bhoys boss said: “Not to a great extent. We’ve got an artificial pitch at Lennoxtown so we’ll have a session on that tomorrow which is the only time of the year we train on that – before we play a game on the artificial. Not that it’s exactly the same, it just gives the players a taste of what it could be like.
“But aside from that, nothing really changes for us in terms of team selection or the way we approach the game. It remains the same, the team selection for Sunday will be around who will be able to get the job done – it’s not picking the team for a surface, it’s picking the team that will be up for the challenge of taking on a difficult opponent. And making sure we perform at our levels.”
The Celtic manager was then asked about his view of plastic pitches in general, stating: “I just don’t like them, not because of an advantage it gives, I just think it alters the game itself. I much prefer to play on natural turf, I think it’s a better game of football and a better spectacle. Players feel more comfortable on it.
“So it’s not about the advantage other teams get, it’s just my preference. I understand why they’re there and understand why some clubs prefer to go that way. I think clubs here in Scotland have proven they can put up some world-class pitches – when we’ve played at Motherwell and even St Johnstone, the pitches were great.”
By now, people know part of the reason some teams in Scotland have these pitches is to do with costs, upkeep and community initiatives that allow more people to train on them than if they were grass surfaces.
However, Postecoglou isn’t wrong with what he says. It does take something away from the matches themselves, which is what I think the Scottish Premiership should be focused on.
In other news, “I don’t lie to you”; Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s insistent media response.
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