John Hartson has shared what he’s noticed about Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou – he doesn’t tend to go after his players.
Celtic haven’t had too many disappointments since he joined the Bhoys last summer. However, there have been some failures in Europe and dropped points here and there; quite normal for any season. It’s Ange’s positive approach to dealing with set-backs, though, that’s impressed Hartson.
Though privately, we’re sure Ange has made himself very clear for any underperforming Celtic stars, his media approach remains steadfast. That’s impressed John Hartson, who worked under a similarly-minded manager in Martin O’Neill.
Hartson said [Herald]: “I think he is very humble, I think he has got so much desire and wants to win. He wants to improve players, which he has done, and I think he will appreciate if he leaves Celtic down the line with league titles and four or five cups, he will be considered as with all the other greats.
“He knows the history, he gets the club, he comes from humble surroundings and he speaks exceptionally well.
“[Ange] doesn’t slam his players. Once or twice this season he has questioned a performance but in general he is always very positive and I think that rubs off on his teams.”
John Hartson impressed by Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou approach to man-management, it’s certainly different…
While laying into Neil Lennon is largely redundant these days, it’s important to remember where the Celtic players’ confidence was when Ange took over.
Very famously, Neil Lennon laid into his Celtic players after a Champions League Qualifying exit to Ferencvaros, saying [BBC]: “If some of you don’t want to be here, leave.” Ryan Christie has recently opened up on the consequences of those comments.
Ange Postecoglou could’ve done the same when Celtic faltered to FC Midtjylland. At the time, our squad was a bit all over the place; a mish-mash of new players who hadn’t settled, youngsters and some players linked to moves elsewhere. He could’ve done the whole “we need a unified front here” thing if he wanted to.
He didn’t. And when players did seek exits from Celtic, he was nothing but classy about it all. Throughout the season, some players have had absolute stinkers, but it happens. Postecoglou has repeatedly said he’s working with human beings and not robots.
Slamming players maybe does sometimes get the best out of them. However, there’s a really positive atmosphere around Celtic that’s tangible when they play. That’s down to good interpersonal relationships, and that bleeds into the form Celtic are showing under Ange Postecoglou. John Hartson has it bang on here.
No doubt, when the time’s right for criticism, Ange will dish it out. Privately, though.
And that’s the difference.
Read more: The staggering fact that puts Ange’s Celtic rebuild into perspective
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