Celtic boss Postecoglou dismisses idea of Aberdeen rest advantage

By Euan Davidson

October 2, 2021

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou doesn’t care in the slightest that Aberdeen have had a week’s break.

The Bhoys played out a hugely disappointing 4-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, sapping at energy reserves ahead of a crucial test in Pittodrie. With Celtic needing to put points on the board, though, and win a first away game since February [FTBL], Postecoglou has no time for excuses.

He insists that Aberdeen will be rested and motivated, sure. But that won’t provide any barrier to his side picking up a much-needed result.

The Celtic boss said [Celtic FC]:

“Aberdeen didn’t have a game midweek so they may see some advantage in that. But again, all these things become irrelevant. We’ve just to be a stronger team than what we are at the moment in terms of turning our performances into results.

“We disappointed our fans on Thursday night, so we’ve got to take that anger and disappointment and use it in a positive way and that is, in a tough game away from home, we have to show that we’ve learned the repercussions and the consequences of a night like that and we don’t want to repeat it.

“You don’t want to ignore your opponent because you’ve got to respect what they bring, and they’ve probably had a disappointing start to the season for them, so I guess they’ll be just as motivated.”

Celtic boss Postecoglou sounds resoundingly confident ahead of Aberdeen test

For tomorrow, it really is all about a reaction. The boss will be frustrated, the players will be frustrated; certainly, supporters are.

It’s about channeling that into an emphatic win against a side who are going through their own period of transition. Replacing a liked but pragmatic coach in McInnes, for a more attack-minded tactician in Stephen Glass, was going to require adjustment.

The reality is, Celtic will face well-rested opponents all season. That’s almost always been the case. A club with European games will, 9 times out of 10, face a weekend battle against a team who’s had all week to prepare.

That hasn’t stopped us before, and shouldn’t do now.

The timing for a thumping win is absolutely ideal. If Celtic can come out of Aberdeen with 3 points tomorrow, the advantages are plentiful. It would break an unwanted streak of away results, get some critics off the manager’s back, and provide real optimism for the international break.

Read more: Joe Hart on the preparation for games under Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou