Ange Postecoglou’s method of playing is clearly starting to excite the Celtic players after Stephen Welsh bigged up the recent training sessions.
Several Hoops stars have come out and bigged up what the new man is trying to bring to the table. And emphasis on reactions after losing possession appears to be a strong focus for Postecoglou.
We’ve seen Celtic’s renewed focus on playing out from the back in their first two pre-season matches against Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic respectively. In both matches, the youngsters have done impressively well to adapt to Postecoglou’s ball-playing demands.
And Welsh has claimed that the new playing style excites him as he outlined why he enjoys working with Postecoglou.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Welsh said: “It’s been really good working with the new manager. Very positive. I’m loving the training, so hopefully we can implement those drills into games. It’s quite exciting the way he wants us to play.
“I like to play under a manager where you know what your role is — and what you are doing in every minute of a training session, and especially a game. I think it’s about trying to start again for everyone.
“It’s about trying to improve your all-round game every day.. Playing in the gaffer’s team, you need to be really good on the ball. So that’s something everyone has to improve on.”
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic players buying into his methods
It’s important that Celtic fans hear these kinds of soundbites from players when it comes to the new manager’s training regime. We need to know that they’re buying into what Postecoglou is trying to do.
So far, it seems as though everything is fairly rosy in that regard. The players all seem to be taking to the high-intensity sessions, and that bodes well for the new boss.
Of course, it also speaks well of some of the current playing squad. There was a stigma attached to many players last season about not trying their hardest for the football club.
If they can impress in pre-season and be a standout in training, it’ll tell the supporters something about those specific players. That they do still have something about them and want to commit to this football club.
Time will tell whether what’s been worked on training can indeed be replicated on the pitch. Friendly success is one thing, but doing it against Midtjylland in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers next week is another.
That match will be a true barometer of how far some players have come over the last month.
In other news: REPORT: Celtic will find out how many fans can attend Midtjylland clash today
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