Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has praised Ange Postecoglou’s side as he delivered his verdict on the Hoops Scottish Premiership title hopes.
After winning 14 out of their 15 games at the beginning of the season, the Bhoys currently sit top of the league with a nine-point advantage.
That points gap led our Glasgow rivals Rangers to make a managerial change as Giovanni van Bronckhorst lost his role and was replaced by Michael Beale.
With the Hoops currently holding a sizable gap, some of the talk during the winter break has been surrounding if the Ibrox side can catch Ange Postecoglou’s high-flying Celts.
Despite that lead, I am sure the Celtic manager will be reminding his squad that there is still plenty of games to play in this title race, and he will be keen to see his side continue their impressive form.
One man who knows what it takes to bridge a gap in Glasgow is former Hoops boss Neil Lennon, who overturned a 15-point deficit in the 2011/12 season between November and December.
Speaking in a recent interview, Lennon briefly assessed Michael Beale’s chances of closing down the points gap between the sides ahead of the return of competitive action.
The ex-Celtic captain stated that he doesn’t believe the new Rangers boss will be able to match the feat achieved in 2011 due to the strength of Ange Postecoglou and his squad, who Lennon was full of praise for.
He said [The National]: “The problem he (Michael Beale) has is that Celtic don’t look as though they’re going to lose too many matches, and never mind Celtic – Rangers have been dropping points to Hibs, Livingston, St Johnstone and St Mirren and that has to stop.
“Rangers have left themselves with no room for error because, domestically, Celtic have been imperious. They lost at St Mirren but have won every other game, and some of the football they’ve been playing has been fantastic.
“Ange’s signings have been excellent. You just need to see how well they’ve done at the World Cup – Josip Juranovic was Man of the Match against Brazil, and Daizen Maeda, Aaron Mooy and Cameron Carter-Vickers were also terrific.
“This Celtic team is great to watch. They have vibrancy and speed, and they play with real intensity, and there’s a constant ambition to score goals whenever they have the ball and whatever the scoreline may be and that all comes from the manager.
“Which is why I don’t think Michael will emulate what we did 11 seasons ago.”
Relentless Ange Postecoglou won’t allow standards to slip as Celtic eye up more sliverware.
There may have been plenty of changes on the other side of Glasgow. However, that is of no concern to Ange Postecoglou.
The Celtic boss is solely focused on seeing his side continue their strong start to the campaign as the Bhoys prepare to kick-start their competitive action this weekend.
Going into the first few rounds of fixtures following the return from the World Cup, a lot of the talk is almost definitely going to be on the Ibrox side and their change of manager.
With over 20 games left, there is still plenty of time to make up room, and I am sure Postecoglou will be well aware of that.
At this stage, we find ourselves sitting in the ideal position as we eye up more silverware under the 57-year-old, with a healthy lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
And if the Hoops are able to emulate the form from the opening half of the season, then there is going to be no stopping this squad.
There is still a long way to go before this title race is decided. But as Lennon mentions, with the form this Celtic side is in, it is going to take a lot to stop us over the next few months.
In other news, “What can I say”: Celtic man reflects on incredible Lionel Messi experience.
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