Why Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou's "unwarranted" support comments matter

By Euan Davidson

August 14, 2021

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has claimed that the support from the Hoops faithful is “unwarranted”, because he’s barely got going yet.

The new Bhoys boss has so far overseen a major overhaul in the playing style at Celtic. His new signings, particularly Kyogo Furuhashi, Joe Hart and Liel Abada, have brought real freshness to a struggling Bhoys side.

Not only that, it’s his relentless pursuit of entertaining, attacking football that’s delighting supporters. After a season of rather turgid displays and shock results, Celtic fans are happy to see a team full of running, creativity and desire to outscore any opposition.

That sea change has been easy to adapt to for Celtic supporters. However, Ange doesn’t feel like he deserves the adulation he’s getting.

The Celtic manager said [Scotsman]:

“To be fair, the supporters have been unbelievable since I got here.

“At the moment I feel it’s a little bit unwarranted – I haven’t done anything yet. The way they have embraced me, even the other night, I just felt the need to acknowledge them. They’ve been so supportive since I got here, but inside I feel I don’t deserve it yet.

“There’s still a long way to go and I need to achieve things at this football club, and make the supporters proud of this team. Hopefully, when I’ve done that, I’ll eventually walk away knowing I’ve been part of something special.”

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has sky-high ambitions, no wonder fans are behind him

Given the circumstances of his arrival, and how bad things were for Celtic supporters last campaign, it could be misunderstood that we’re easily bought over with promises of attacking football and victories.

That, a manager could come in and say the right things, and we’d be impressed instantly. To think that, though, would be appallingly naïve.

It’s not just what he’s saying; it’s how he’s saying it, and more importantly, how he’s acting on it. So far, he’s addressed some key needs in the squad with nous in the transfer market. He’s brought the confidence back for players who struggled last term.

And, most importantly, there’s an undying passion to the guy that is just utterly infectious on the sideline. Meanwhile, his blunt, direct approach with the press taps perfectly into the psyche of many a Celtic supporter, who finds the repetitive questions of the mainstream media more than a little tedious.

Postecoglou doesn’t feel like he’s done anything yet. He has, though; he’s lifted the mood of a huge support that was utterly disillusioned by events last term. And, perhaps even more importantly, he’s brought a belief back to a Celtic squad that sorely needed it.

In a sense, he’s right; it’s still very early in his tenure, and he still has it all to prove in terms of trophy wins, and being competitive across multiple competitions. Obviously, that is the case.

However, his very clear desire to achieve great things at the football club, and to do it his own, distinct way, ought to only improve his popularity with supporters, as well as serve as a warning to the rest of the league.

Postecoglou hasn’t even got started yet.

In other news: Former Celtic star lays down challenge to Tom Rogic