Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was predictably asked questions about issues pretty unrelated to football at his press conference today, as the media glare on the club and supporters increases ahead of Sunday.
As reported by the BBC, UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against the club after fans displayed anti-monarchy banners at the recent Champions League match away to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Postecoglou was asked a fairly loaded question about whether the banners overshadowed his team’s performance in the 1-1 win, but the Celtic boss made it clear that’s entirely a sense of perspective and that it could be informed by what kind of media an individual is consuming.
He wants to keep his mind trained on events on the pitch.
The manager said [Celtic YouTube]: “Well, it depends on what you are reading or what you are listening to. My focus is on us as a football club, and the performance was really strong at the highest level of competition.
“We’ve still got some growth to do as a football team in terms of playing at that level on a consistent basis. I was encouraged by our progress but also know that we need to keep improving in those areas. We’ll keep representing our football club in the best possible way.”
When asked about the pre-match protocol ahead of Sunday’s kick-off away to St Mirren, Postecoglou also said [Celtic YouTube]: “I have the same message to our fans that we always have. We abided by the protocols, we wore black armbands on Wednesday night.
“I think there’s a minute’s applause and we’ll abide by whatever obligations and responsibilities we have as a football club. We’ll do that in a respectful manner. We want our supporters to do the same.
“I’m not going to speak on behalf of anyone else or supporters. We’ll look after our own club and our own supporters and we’ll do whatever is required, as we have so far, in a fairly respectful way as a football club.”
Celtic play St Mirren in a 12pm kick-off live on Sky Sports, with the Bhoys hoping to at least maintain a five-point lead at the top of the table.
In other news, The sign that late Shakhtar miss won’t faze Celtic star Giorgos Giakoumakis.
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