Dundee United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti has admitted he was left ‘lost for words’ after Celtic snatched all three points late on against the Tannadice side on Saturday.
The 31-year-old started between the sticks for United on Saturday, following a disappointing league run which has left Liam Fox’s side struggling to pick up points in recent weeks.
The Terrors were looking to frustrate Ange Postecoglou’s side and take something home from the game, which they came so close to doing late on after levelling up the score at 2-2.
However, the Hoops were able to produce two late goals of their own, with Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada scoring to deliver the victory.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the game, United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti stated that he was ‘lost for words’ following the Bhoys’ late winner.
The Australian shot-stopper didn’t feature the last time the two sides met, which ultimately ended in a 9-0 defeat for his side. But, he believes Saturday’s result was worse after coming within minutes of a surprise result.
He said [The Herald]: “I am still lost for words. We went to Parkhead with a game plan, and I thought we executed it perfectly. We got behind the ball and hit them on the counter.
“We need a bit of accountability on our end. We spoke about set pieces during the week – they take throw-ins quickly, they take corners quickly, they take set pieces quickly. We just weren’t switched on, and it killed us. We killed ourselves.
“It is just frustrating. We gave away a c*** goal in the last minute at a set piece. We have to be accountable. We need to switch on in those situations. It killed us.
“Obviously, the last game we played against them at home was a game that we wanted to erase from the memory bank. Yes, it was a better result than the last time we played them, but I thought we could have come away with at least a point.
“To go so close to getting it was hard. Was it worse than losing 9-0? It was 100 per cent. We were so close, just a few minutes away. If we had come away with a point, that would really have kick-started us and given us real confidence going into the next two games before the World Cup break.”
Having previously featured for his national team, Birighitti knows Postecoglou well. Despite the disappointment of the weekend defeat, the goalkeeper spoke glowingly about the Celtic boss, expressing his delight at seeing the former Socceroos boss do well at Parkhead.
He said: “I have got a lot of respect and a lot of time for him (Ange). We worked together in the national team, and I played against his teams when I was in Australia. I have the utmost respect for him and what he is doing. He has done unbelievably well, and I can’t give him enough credit.
“After the game, he just said that I had played well and told me to keep my head up and stay positive and that results would turn. That is about it, really. It was good of him. Ange is a class character on and off the field. Like I said, I have a lot of time for him. I respect him a lot and what he has done.
“It is good to see him here in Scotland doing well. He deserves it. He has had a tough journey back home in Australia. To see him doing so well and being involved in the Champions League? I don’t have enough words to describe how happy I am for him. He is a top guy on and off the field.”
Ange delivers United late blow, but Birighitti’s words say all that needs to be said about classy Celtic boss.
It was clearly quite the afternoon for Mark Birighitti, who went from elation to disappointment within the space of just a few minutes at Parkhead.
After a frustrating start to the season, you can only imagine how conceding those two late goals felt for the United side, who looked all set to grab a point.
And Ange Postecoglou was well aware of that, and he showed his class in discussion with Birighitti, who has since disclosed the conversation he had with his former boss.
Although the two late goals may have come as a shock to his teammates, I am sure the United number one will have seen this all before from Ange and his teams after working with and against him back in his homeland.
Of course, the Tannadice side aren’t the first to suffer a late loss like this, and you would imagine it is likely that they won’t be the last this campaign.
In other news, Anthony Ralston shares squad outlook on Celtic January transfer plans.
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