Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou showed his class in a recent meeting with former Hoops striker Charlie Nicholas.
Nicholas was like so many pundits back in the summer who absolutely bashed the new Parkhead boss. Nicholas used his Daily Express column to call Ange the “new Ronny Deila” [Scottish Daily Express, print edition, 28/09, page 57].
Nicholas wasn’t the only one to have a pop either, and he certainly wasn’t the only one to have doubts. However, it was the over-exaggerated nature of the criticism that irked many Celtic fans. And it looks even more foolish now when you see just how much Celtic are flying under the Greek-Australian tactician.
And now, the former Parkhead player has detailed an encounter he has recently had with Postecoglou, and it’s clear Nicholas is now in total awe of the table-topping Celtic boss.
Speaking in his Scottish Daily Express column [print edition, 08/02, page 55], Nicholas said: “I actually bumped into Ange in Glasgow’s west end last week when he was out with his wife and agent, and I was out for a coffee with Brian Dempsey. Ange gave me a genuine, warm hug which was much appreciated.
“I probably haven’t been welcomed by anyone of that stature at Celtic since the Tommy Burns days. We had a brief five-minute conversation during which I thanked him for the job he is doing at my old club and what he is building. Ange is a strong individual and won’t bow down to any chief executive or owner. He is his own man and has a clear vision of what he wants to do.
“When I asked him about the signing of Matt O’Riley, he simply pointed to his agent and said, ‘This is my agent and that is what I advised him to do’. Ange goes with his instincts and his passion. It’s a bit old school. He is sorting out the issues and just getting on with the job.”
Ange Postecoglou continues to change opinions at Celtic
Nicholas is just one of many who have had to go back on their words from earlier this season. Kris Commons and Hugh Keevins, for example, are examples of others who totally jumped the gun on the former Australia boss.
Yes criticism in the early stages of the campaign was necessary. Failing to beat Hearts on opening day was frustrating as was the early UCL qualifying defeat to Midjtylland. Those were failures that weren’t on Ange’s to-do list.
But the criticism went far too into the extreme. To label him the new Ronny Deila, for example, was absolutely ridiculous. Ange couldn’t be any different in his approach and his footballing style.
But that’s football punditry in Scotland for you. It’s incredibly reactionary. There’s no time for patience in it and that was shown with how Ange was being viewed in the early stages of the campaign.
These days, the former Yokohama Marinos boss has a trophy to his name, has made the UECL knockout stages, and is currently sitting pretty at the top of the Premiership. He ended our derby failures in emphatic form last week, whilst he’s also managed to carry out a monumental rebuild of the first-team squad on top of all of that.
What he’s done here truly is remarkable, even if the ultimate prize of the Premiership has yet to be won. It’s no surprise to see the likes of Nicholas finally come on board. How could you not?
In other news, Carl Starfelt consistently delivering for Celtic as Ange’s most improved signing bosses Fir Park
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