Jens Berthel Askou and Motherwell were eliminated from the Scottish Cup on Wednesday.
Their fifth round game at Aberdeen was rescheduled, for the same reasons as Celtic’s league fixture there a fortnight ago – and in a chaotic tie, Motherwell were shown two red cards, with Aberdeen also going down to ten,
The hosts won 2-0, and despite the defeat, Askou was upbeat after the game; he even had a warning for Celtic and the top three.
Asked by Premier Sports’ Connie McLaughlin about his ambitions for a late title push, he said: “We want to win every game.
“And if we’re good enough at doing that, we’re good enough at winning most, then I think there’s a good chance that we will push, and keep pushing for whatever is possible.
“And then we know – it’s not our main target at the beginning of the season, but we are here to win football games.
“We haven’t won at Ibrox yet, or at Celtic Park, or at Tynecastle – and that’s probably our next big target, to go and show that we can win there.”
Would you take Jens Berthel Askou in the event that Martin O’Neill leaves Celtic in the summer?
Jens Berthel Askou wants to challenge Celtic before the end of the season
A Celtic side, who were admittedly woeful under Wilfried Nancy, were played off the park by Askou’s side at Fir Park in December.
Even when the sides met at Celtic Park earlier in the season, Motherwell gave them a real scare, routinely playing through the Hoops’ press.
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Askou went on to say: “At this stage of the season, from the very beginning until the very last, [the goal] is to win when we play.”
“Even with 2-0 down and nine men on the pitch, it was the aim again – in the last five-ten minutes, even though the situation was hopeless.
“So it doesn’t change anything. Now we are out, we have a few – or at least one – game(s) left to play.
“And then we are fully focused on the game on Saturday, and as I said, I don’t need to pick anyone up. They are right there, ready to kick on, and we chase whatever’s there for us.”
The Dane has, of course, been touted by many for the permanent Celtic job this week, should Martin O’Neill call it quits at the end of the season.
For now, that remains a big if, but O’Neill’s men will host Motherwell at Celtic Park. Given Askou’s comments, that will be an interesting occasion.
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Jens Berthel Askou widely being tipped for the Celtic job
The Fir Park boss hasn’t made any noise about his Motherwell future, but the media certainly has.
Charlie Mulgrew has given Askou a rousing endorsement, saying that his football would be ‘perfect’ for the Scottish champions.
Frank McAvennie has also urged Celtic to appoint Askou, saying that he would be the one to take the Hoops to the next level.
Asked about who will be leading Celtic this August, Tom English saw him as the favourite, describing the appointment as a ‘no-brainer’.
Even Chris Sutton is sold on Askou – and he is not an easy man to please.
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