Right then; Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic are top of the league after beating Rangers last night.
If you’re on here, you’re more than aware of that, obviously. Again, though: Celtic are top of the league after beating Rangers last night.
The form since the turn of year has been spotless. 5 games across two competitions, and 5 wins. Some were last-gasp and dramatic, others showed the full power of this Celtic side, including last night. With a shaky Rangers side losing their grasp on top spot, it’s Ange Postecoglou and Celtic in the driving seat.
If anyone knows that we can’t rest on our laurels now, though, it’s Postecoglou. From day one, the man has preached the virtue of consistency, of refusing to let up and taking nothing for granted. There’s not anything specifically unique about that, but few hammer the point home like Ange does.
The squad will be buzzing after last night. They should be, they’re entitled to be and it’d be bizarre if they weren’t. The next step, though, is using this feeling as motivation, because there’s no let-up in the schedule.
It’s two big away trips in a row for Celtic next on fixture list. On Sunday, it’s back to Fir Park to take on Motherwell. Another David Turnbull screamer is not on the cards this time, but Ange’s pleasure was very obvious after beating them last time in North Lanarkshire.
Then, it’s Aberdeen at Pittodrie. And you have to admit, there’s a certain poetry to the timing of this.
If reaching the summit of the Scottish Premiership was a journey, trips to Motherwell and Aberdeen were two of the biggest steps. Ange and Celtic managed to overturn a dismal run of away form going back from last season with galvanising victories against the Steelmen and the Dons. Doing that again would only add to this side’s title credentials.
We don’t stop; Celtic and Ange Postecoglou have plenty more challenges ahead
Still, regardless of the nature of the challenges ahead, it’s hard to look past Celtic and Postecoglou conquering everything before them.
The morale boost from Saturday was enough to power this team for weeks after. Following it up with a thumping of our fiercest rivals? If that doesn’t galvanise a squad, nothing will.
Ange has pleaded patience, though. Just like nothing was won in October, the league title wasn’t handed out last night. Postecoglou has mined some real consistency from his players, and that’s going to need to be the case going forward. You know that, I know that.
What’s important to remember, too, is that there’s European football ahead. Bodø/Glimt stand between us and the latter stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League, a competition in its inaugural season. And if you have any doubts Postecoglou is taking that seriously, think again.
Throw in Scottish Cup fixtures, and it’s a busy, challenging time ahead. However, it’s not one we should be fearing. Not before last night, and certainly not now, after it.
There is no respite. There’s no let-up. We keep going, we don’t stop, and we celebrate at the end.
That’s what Ange said in that now famous training footage [Celtic FC] from the first days of his tenure. It remains the case, and it always, always will.
Read more: Ange Postecoglou makes priceless remark about Celtic supporters singing his name
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