Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has given strong backing to striker Giorgos Giakoumakis for expressing his view that the Bhoys are the best team in the country.
Back in February, Giakoumakis hit the headlines for his confident assertion that Celtic were better than Rangers and that he believed his team would win the title.
Those comments were brought up to Ryan Jack ahead of last weekend’s derby, with the Rangers midfielder branding them disrespectful.
Giakoumakis defended himself yesterday and today the Celtic manager firmly shut down the controversy with some excellent logic.
Postecoglou didn’t give his thoughts on the content of Giakoumakis’ comments, but simply defended the Greek striker’s right to air his opinion without being criticised.
Speaking in his Friday press conference, the Bhoys boss said [Celtic YouTube]: “I don’t tell people what to think. The one thing we always say to our players – what I say to them anyway – is that you just speak from the heart, you speak what you feel is the truth in your own mind. It’s not about just saying things that might please or upset other people.
“If you’re asked the question, be as honest as possible. That’s what I try and do and it’s what I encourage the players to do – whatever they feel they should say. I don’t think there’s any harm in that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in that.
“People get carried away and think that people are going to use that as motivation against us. If that’s what people need to get up against us, then I think they’re missing the key of what we’re about.”
That’s a nice capstone on all of this nonsense and hopefully puts the whole thing to bed. Giakoumakis has come out of this well having talked a big game and backed it up on the pitch.
The Greek international admits he has an ego and confidence. Who wouldn’t want those traits in a striker?
He thinks we’re the best team in the country and – you know what – we are. If that’s an inconvenient truth for some, so be it.
In other news, Karamoko Dembele update after youngster drops out of Celtic squads.
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