Ange Postecoglou has provided the Celtic supporters with a brilliant insight into the players’ commitment levels as he outlined his own admiration for them.
Celtic have had to go through a total rollercoaster of a season this term with injury woes and players coming to the club without a pre-season to their name. In addition to that, signings were made in January that had no time to bed in, and were instead thrown right into the team for big games.
Despite all of that, the Hoops have been on a sensational run of form since the winter break. We’ve won 10 of our 11 Premiership matches, and currently sit 3 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
And Ange can’t get enough of his players’ hunger and desire as he talked up the commitment they’ve shown since arriving. As quoted by the National, Ange said: “I have total admiration for the way the players have kept going physically during a really tough run of games. This team deserves great credit. We will see how the season unfolds in the end, but all of our players have embraced the challenges we have faced from the start of the season.
“We had guys coming in without a pre-season with us. Others didn’t have a pre-season at all. It was a case of arriving and getting on the pitch. Daizen, Reo and Yosuke came in with just a couple of weeks off after playing the season in Japan. They went straight in and played a lot of football. Matty O’Riley went from League One in England, straight in to Premiership football up here and adapted. Callum is another one who has really put himself out there for the team,
“You talk about the challenges, the pressure and the intensity at Celtic – but it’s a credit to these guys that they have faced everything this year. I am sure they will face more but the way they have dealt with pressure and adversity, without making excuses is great. When things haven’t gone well, they haven’t made excuses. They also haven’t wanted me to make excuses.
“They have accepted responsibility for everything and it’s a credit to a new group of players who were literally thrown together in the last eight months.”
Celtic players going to the well in bid to secure the title
Celtic fans already knew the players were giving 100% of course. But it’s class to hear the manager talk about how they’re doing it and that no excuses have been made.
That’s been one of the real noticeable factors of our success this season so far. There hasn’t been a single complaint from any of the players, at least not publicly, about a lack of game-time.
Ange has instead managed to ensure that everyone here knows exactly what their role is. That there is a collective understanding that the team comes first and that we need everyone at different stages to perform their own individual tasks.
In other words, all players are being made to feel as though they are of the utmost importance. Look at how many options we have up top and in the midfield area for example. Yet everyone has been receiving plenty of minutes to impress whilst results have stayed positive.
It’s an incredible achievement from the manager, and one he doesn’t get enough credit for. There’s a confidence growing at Celtic that’s clear to see. It comes from the family feel being built up by the manager too.
Whether it will take us all the way or not this season remains to be seen. But regardless of what happens, nobody can deny the players’ commitment levels this term. It’s a far cry from last season.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou left wowed with what Callum McGregor has been doing after injury recovery
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
