Many Celtic fans know exactly what the media pundits down south think about the Scottish game. It’s no secret that they don’t rate the quality of our league.
The money available to Scottish clubs means that teams up here will never be able to compete with the quality of players available to clubs in England.
But what cannot be denied is the will to win and the tribalism and passion of the supporters is second to none.
And that is a pressure that not just managers of Celtic have to deal with. Managers of all clubs in Scotland do which makes this criticism of Ange Postecoglou very bizarre.
Postecoglou’s will to win questioned
Postecoglou was taking his usual pre-match press conference ahead of the North London Derby as Spurs prepare to take on Arsenal.
Reflecting on last season when Postecoglou criticised the Spurs support for them wanting to lose to Man City to deny Arsenal the title.
The former Celtic boss said, “I felt the same pressure in that game [against Man City] I want to win every game it doesn’t change for me.
“[On being told ‘but it’s Arsenal’ he’s playing] I don’t care. I don’t care who I’m playing mate.
“Let’s go out there and play each other I’m going to want to beat you. I may not, but I’m going to want to.
“I just want to win mate. It doesn’t change for me and I think that’s the key to success.
“I really would hate to think that I’ve got players in the dressing room who want to win this game more than any others or prepare differently or try harder in this game than any other because that’s not the way forward.
“Irrespective we understand the significance of it because if we do win our supporters will be over the moon. I understand that.
“And if we don’t win they’re going to be devastated but if we prepare this game differently than any other then I’m disappointed because I want to win every time and it’s the only way you can be successful.
“So I make no apologies for that. I’m not going to prepare any different for this game than I did against Newcastle I will against Coventry on Wednesday.
” I want to win all the time and I want our club to win all the time and if you do that then, yeah when you beat your rivals in a big derby game everyone gets excited and everyone feels great but I want more than that. That’s not what I’m after.”
And that response prompted this from English pundit, Rory Jennings on social media channel X:
“This bloke has absolutely no understanding of the tribalism and rivalry that is the bedrock of football in this country. Of course, you want to beat Arsenal more, of course, it should matter more than other games.
“Last season he was having a go at Tottenham fans who wanted to lose to City, now this. How any Tottenham fan can feel a rapport with Postecoglu I really don’t know, obviously doesn’t get it.”
Bartley defends Postecoglou with Celtic vs Rangers point
I mean, where do you even start with that comment? It’s fair to say that Jennings was roundly criticised for this but Marvin Bartley summed it up perfectly with this response.
Bartley was, of course, being sarcastic with his point that the Celtic vs Rangers game is not a ‘big derby’, pointing out how absurd Jennings’ point is.
Postecoglou has managed 11 Glasgow Derbies, won six, drew three and lost just two. He has beaten Rangers in cup semi-finals, finals and even in their own backyard with no fans so I’m pretty sure he has a firm grasp of what tribalism and rivalry are.
This comment from Jennings is typical of a pundit who doesn’t look at football from outside his Premier League bubble.
Ange not only gets it, he’s lived managing one of the biggest derbies in world football and to question his understanding or will to win is one thing, I think, this pundit will not do again in a hurry.
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