Johan Mjallby the latest to be left stunned by Ange's Celtic work

By David Walton

March 29, 2022

Johan Mjallby is the latest former Celtic star to be taken aback by what Ange Postecoglou has achieved at Parkhead.

Ange has had the Celtic support absolutely mesmerised with what he’s done in his debut campaign in Glasgow. Celtic currently sit 3 points clear at the top of the Premiership with only 6 games remaining. Back at the start of the campaign, many had us not even laying a glove on Rangers in pre-season.

But Ange has made a mockery of the pre-season predictions this year. He’s left a host of Scottish football pundits looking absolutely ridiculous. From Charlie Nicholas to Hugh Keevins, there have been plenty of commentators and pundits up here left with egg on their faces.

Mjallby, however, wasn’t one of the ones coming out and jumping to conclusions after a few weeks. But even so, he’s still be left wowed by what Ange has achieved in Glasgow so far. Speaking to 67HailHail, Johan said: “Like everyone else I’m so impressed with this transformation because remember it was doom and gloom here last season. At the start of the season it didn’t look too well.

“It took a while before his ideas came through. There were obviously new players coming in and so on, so you have to give him and the squad time. Now the trsansformation’s been absolutely brilliant. I don’t think many of us thought that we would sit here now even thinking about the treble, which is incredible.

“But the really key thing is now that he got a number of players in that he knows is loyal to him, the way he wants to play. So much energy and pace, which is the Celtic way, being really attack-minded.

“But you have to give a lot of credit to the manager for where we are right now. Very impressive. He’s a strong character. Mentally he looks to be in a good place. He really loves Celtic and he’s born in a way to be the Celtic manager with the way he wants them to play.”

Ange Postecoglou earning the plaudits from the right people

Ange probably doesn’t take much notice of what anti-Celtic pundits say. Nor will he put much cop into what the media write about him. But he’ll certainly take a lot from figures such as Johan. Someone who has given so much to the club both as a player and as a coach.

These are the figures you want to be impressing. You know that if former players such as Mjallby are enjoying your work, you’re doing something right. Not that Ange will feel he needs the affirmation – he’ll know himself how far along on his Celtic journey he is and how much more this team has to give.

But all of these plaudits are firmly deserved. Johan talks about how nobody would’ve imagined us sitting here talking about a treble. That’s a talking point that hasn’t been covered enough. People genuinely forget just how dismissive the media was of Ange when he arrived.

Even if the league title isn’t won this season, nobody can take away from Ange that progress has been made. Winning back one of our trophies in the League Cup was a major boost. Now, it’s time for Celtic to answer some even more serious questions.

Can we go to Ibrox under pressure and get a big result? Can we see the title through given we go into the run-in as the in-form side?

If yes is the answer to both of these questions, then Ange will have more plaudits like Johan’s coming his way.

In other news, Celtic youngster Rocco Vata sparks stirring fightback but Ireland U17s miss out on Euros