Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou wants his side to be the talk of Europe, in a very positive sense.
The Bhoys have struggled to pick up big results in the Europa League since wins over Lazio in 19-20. If a week is a long time in football, then the Stadio Olimpico feels like an epoch ago.
Since then, the Hoops have found life more difficult against European opposition. So far, this year’s campaign has included a spirited loss to Real Betis and a caning from Bayer Leverkusen.
Against Ferencvaros today, however, Postecoglou wants to start some new trends. Using his typically attacking style, the Greek-Aussie boss is aspiring for greatness, and carrying on a Scottish “tradition” in securing big results.
Postecoglou said [Sun]:
“For me it’s not just about getting a result. It’s also about playing football that maybe other nations and clubs will notice. If we can do that then we will raise the profile of the local game as well.
“Scottish clubs have always picked up results against bigger opposition in Europe. That’s part of the history and tradition of the game here.
“But part of it for me is to hopefully get the rest of Europe talking about the football we are playing, as well as the results we get.”
Why shouldn’t Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou aim high?
If you’ve already won league titles in Asia, and managed at a World Cup, why shouldn’t you aim high in the European game?
Postecoglou will have been attracted to Celtic’s stature as something of a sleeping giant in Europe. Celtic haven’t got past the first knockout stage of a European tournament since 2004, when the Europa League was known as the UEFA Cup.
Impressively, it was Barcelona we beat over two legs that year, with a young David Marshall keeping out some of the best attacking talent in Europe [Celtic Wiki].
It’s unlikely to be this year that Celtic get near to being the talk of Europe. However, the belief Postecoglou has is infectious. With the support and some extra quality in the squad, why shouldn’t Celtic aim to land some blows in European competition?
Of course, the objective this year remains domestic football. Still, a successful pair of results against Ferencvaros could at least seal UEFA Europa Conference football after Christmas. Theoretically, it’s a competition with decent odds for the Hoops.
In any case, it’s great to hear the manager talk like this. It hints at a long-term vision for success at the club, and no supporters will be complaining if we’re able to restore our reputation on the continent.
Read more: James McCarthy suffers fresh setback as Celtic squad absence explained
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