Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has stated that Ange Postecoglou has emphasised the importance of the supporters in the build-up to the Rangers game today.
The Hoops face off against Rangers in perhaps their most important game of the season to date. Victory here will see talk regarding a potential treble absolutely skyrocket. It would also more or less ensure Rangers end the season trophyless unless the unthinkable happens in the Europa League.
Celtic supporters were given an insight into what Ange does on big occasions just over a fortnight ago. The club released a clip of the manager giving a team talk before the League Cup final against Hibs where he stressed the importance of the game to supporters.
And Taylor has stated that the message has been somewhat similar ahead of today. As he talked up his own personal form via the Herald, Greg said: “The gaffer has been very helpful in terms of helping me adapt to a different way of playing so I have enjoyed that. I would say my performances have been pretty consistent this year and I have enjoyed trying to play the way the manager’s way, the way he wants us to play. I have tried to learn and improve every game and I am continuing to try and do that.
“The manager is big on that he stresses that they [the fans] look forward to the 90 minutes they get to see us play all week long so it is important we do our best to send them home happy. [The manager] is very level-headed and he keeps us that way as well. He does emphasise the opportunity right in front of us though. He will talk about the fact it is semi-final and about the fans turning out in their numbers hoping to see us succeed. We know what is at stake, we are not naive in that regard.
“Everyone has been really complimentary. We have been on a good run domestically so the fans seem to be happy quite happy with us and how we are playing.”
Celtic players shouldn’t need too much motivation – it’s all there for them today
Ange as we know isn’t one to say a lot to the players. But it appears that on the big occasions, he likes to sprinkle them with a bit of pre-match motivation. Something for them to engrain into their heads as they head out and look to pick up the result.
Today, however, feels like one of those occasions where not a single word would be necessary. Victory at Hampden would do so much for this football club. Yes, it would move us closer to a potential treble, but it also gives us a major boost in the bigger picture.
The fact that Celtic could effectively have whipped Rangers all across Glasgow within 3 months is incredible to think about. To secure yet another victory over them and a third with Giovanni van Bronckhorst as their manager? The psychological damage that inflicts on them is massive for us.
It gives us the opportunity to not only win the Scottish Cup, but to end the season in what would be an entirely fitting manner against Hearts – the side who beat Celtic on opening day in Ange’s first domestic match.
Players will know the scale of the contest they’re about to take part in. They’ll know how much this means to so many people. How much joy they can put on millions of Celtic supporters’ faces throughout the world. It would also consolidate those results at Celtic Park and Ibrox and allow fans to enjoy them for a prolonged period – something we’ve been robbed of due to the schedule.
It’s a huge day for Celtic and Ange. Whatever the manager has done before big occasions this season, it’s worked a gem. We have every right to be confident that it will do so again today.
In other news, Neil McCann sounds extremely concerned about what Celtic could have in store for rivals
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