Michael Stewart highlights Ange Postecoglou's classy post-match Celtic gesture

By David Walton

April 17, 2022

Michael Stewart has highlighted Ange Postecoglou’s classy post-match gesture after he shook Bobby Madden’s hand despite a shocker of a performance.

Madden allowed Rangers to keep 11 men on the pitch despite the fact the likes of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo being lucky to stay on the pitch. In addition to that, Madden allowed several fouls to go on Celtic players that should’ve been yellow cards as he failed to give us the right level of protection.

However, what we can’t bring ourselves to say is that it was the reason we lost today. The 2-1 defeat to Rangers came about due to our own failings on the day.

And speaking post-match, Stewart was quick to highlight the classy nature in which Ange conducted himself post-match. Speaking on Premier Sports post-match, the former Hearts and Hibs star said: One other thing that I’ve got to say, and I mentioned this before, Ange Postecoglou went right over and shook the referee’s hand. Which I think is a big, big thing.

“He could’ve easily turned around and said as a Celtic minded person ‘Bobby Madden’s got a lot of bad decisions today’. I thought it was a very good point to go over and shake the referee’s hand. It matters a lot because on the balance of play, Rangers were the better side.

“The referee didn’t have a great game, but it showed a lot of class from the Celtic manager that.”

Michael Stewart highlights Ange Postcoglou’s classy gesture

It would’ve been easy for Ange to absolutely let loose after the game at Madden. He certainly could’ve made life easier for us at times today.

But at the same time this shouldn’t surprise anyone. That’s what Ange is all about. He isn’t one to go charging down the referee at full-time and roar from the rooftops about decisions. It’s never been in his nature whether we win, lose, or draw.

You get the sense that Postecoglou is far more concerned with some self-reflection. He’ll look at his team’s own poor display and look at aspects such as why we were so leggy as the game wore on. Why we didn’t look up for the fight in extra time. Why big-hitters let him down uncharacteristically.

There is far too much to concern ourselves with than to get embroiled in the negative press that would follow an incident like that.

Ange will have his own opinion on Madden’s performance. Chances are he’s thinking across the same lines as the rest of us. But it’s not something he’ll allow himself to show. He has too much class to make out as though it’s the only thing that cost us today.

Here’s hoping, however, that he does indeed find his own answers as we look ahead to a vital few weeks in our season.

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