Celtic squad set for Friday rest day as Ange Postecoglou explains benefits of lighter schedule

By John McGinley

March 10, 2022

The Celtic squad will get a Friday rest day tomorrow after two full training sessions this week, with another two to come before Dundee United on Monday night.

The Bhoys don’t have a Wednesday or Thursday match this week for the first time since the January return from the winter break, giving Ange Postecoglou a rare chance to plot out the perfect preparation for the next match.

Everyone would much rather we were still in European competition but the extra rest and training work is a significant silver lining in the context of the next two crucial months.

Postecoglou said of this week at Lennoxtown in today’s press conference [YouTube]: “It’s been good more than anything. It just gives us a chance to map out a week and do some different types of training we haven’t had and to put some real work into some guys.

“When you have got such a heavy schedule you are constantly aware of making sure players are recovering well and freshening up rather than putting some meaningful work into them.

“We have had two good sessions so far and today was a good solid workout for the group. We will have a rest day tomorrow before another two solid days of training.

“It gives us a chance to some different types of training and it is really competitive, as you can imagine, with everyone sort of everyone fit and available. They all want to be a part of it so training is really competitive and credit to the lads as it has been a good level.”

Celtic should savour these moments because they don’t come around too often during a hectic season.

Thankfully, the next midweek is free too, before an international break that will be further relief from match-to-match action for many of Postecoglou’s players.

With David Turnbull expected to join training next week and, hopefully, Kyogo during the international break then we could even be two players better off by the time the derby comes around.

Celtic must ensure this time is the breather they need to go on an all-out assault for the title and Scottish Cup. Our rivals don’t have this luxury.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou offers Celtic hope to Johnny Kenny after getting “very good” coach feedback.