Ange Postecoglou has backed striker Giorgos Giakoumakis to put his penalty miss behind him and perform for Celtic on Thursday night.
Giakoumakis had a golden chance to score an injury-time winner from the penalty spot against Livingston today, but hit as poor a penalty as you’ll see at Celtic Park. It was all too easy for goalkeeper Max Stryjek to smother the ball.
Postecoglou isn’t putting blame on the Greek striker’s shoulders though and shared what he’ll be telling the player after the horror miss.
As quoted by The Scotsman, the Bhoys boss said: “The good strikers dust themselves off knowing that when the next chance comes they’ll put it away. I’m sure that’s what he’ll do. That’s what I’ll be telling him to do.
“It’s not about feeling sorry for yourself. That’s his role in the team, he’s got to be there and take opportunities when they come. He didn’t today but if he gets himself in the right areas on Thursday I’m sure he’ll take them”
The forward’s reputation with the Celtic support has taken a massive dent today, not just because of the penalty miss but his overall day too.
He didn’t have a great 90 minutes, missing a couple of chances in open play as well as not exactly living up to his billing as a physical threat in the opposition box. Celtic had 40 crosses today but he was rarely in the running to connect with them.
With just 19 touches and five completed passes throughout, his isolation was a real problem in the match, even if it wasn’t all of his fault.
We need to see better from Giakoumakis and the teammates looking to connect with him. But he’ll know that and it sounds like Postecoglou will be hammering home the message too.
In other news, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou provides injury update on Carl Starfelt.
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