Ange Postecoglou knows exactly what fans in the stands in his homeland will be thinking about these Sydney Cup clashes. Because if he wasn’t Celtic manager he would be right in there with them.
Postecoglou grew up craving the chance to see top sides in the flesh instead of needing an alarm call to wake up and watch them on screen. Which makes this trip all the more special for the Aussie.
Postecoglou doesn’t see Thursday morning's game against Sydney FC and Sunday’s encounter against Everton as just a couple of bounce matches. He sees them as a chance to give something back to the legions of expat fans and supporters who have travelled around the world to cheer on their heroes. And deep down there’s also a part of him desperate to put on a show for the Australian public who have been roaring him on from afar.
The Parkhead boss and his players got a huge welcome from more than 1000 fans at the Allianz Stadium for the Hoops’ open training session. Postecoglou was one of the last to head back up the tunnel after autograph and selfie duties but he was determined to pay back the punters for their support.
It’ll be the same when the games kick-off and he admitted he’s thrilled to get the opportunity to be in the dugout when he could have easily been on the terraces. Postecoglou said: “It does feel sort of special. Growing up here we used to hang about for clubs from overseas coming over and play games on our shores.
“Our experience was getting up at two or three in the morning to watch the football from the other side of the world. So, if I wasn’t manager tomorrow I’d probably be at the game. It has been my experience growing up here, so I know what that feels like watching in the early hours of the morning.
“It’s why it’s really important for us to put on a good performance in the first game and on Sunday and make sure that the people who come to the game feel excited by what they get to see. To bring such a big club here as a manager, it will be special and I’m looking forward to it.”
Postecoglou will send his men out full throttle as always and look to put on a show.
But he knows this trip is also a chance to reflect on a superb start to the Scottish season. The Hoops have won 14 out of 15 games in the league and are into the League Cup last four in the kind of blistering beginning the campaign not seen since the Brendan Rodgers Invincible term and Martin O’Neill ’s flying start more than two decades ago.
Celtic’s stunning domestic run has blasted the Hoops nine points clear of rivals Rangers. But Postecoglou said: “Look, mate, I don’t have expectations. The way I see it, there shouldn’t be a ceiling on anything you can do.
“We’ve had a great start to our domestic season. Our form’s been excellent and our performances have been strong. My main concern, I knew this block of games was going to be pretty critical. Thirteen games in 42, 43 days, including Champions League, I knew that was going to really test us and test our squad.
“So, to come out of the other side – irrespective of the gap – having won every league game plus in the cup, it’s been an extraordinary effort. But it goes to show you that if we’d gone into it, whatever expectations I might’ve had, we’ve probably surpassed them. So it’s better you don’t have those things and just focus on the job at hand.
“It’s a great foundation. We’ve come through that tough period and that should give us the strength to say that when we return we should really be stronger now, because we’re not going to face as gruelling a schedule for what we’ve just had.”
The funny thing is, Celtic’s league form has probably been lost in the wash. A lot of the focus has been over the city and the struggles at Ibrox, while disappointments at European results not matching performances has skewered the perception.
But has the Premiership push been overlooked a tad? Postecogou said: “I think that. It’s probably because of the Champions League. Usually the games are more spaced out but the games have been jammed together because of the World Cup.
“Our results in the Champions League didn’t reflect some of our performances, I feel, so we fell a bit short. When you put those results in the middle, it doesn’t look like an extraordinary run.
“But it’s been an unbelievable effort. I don’t think there are many clubs in Europe or around the world who have had the
commitments we’ve had and still won every league game during that block of games.
“Is there more to come? Definitely. The guys will have grown. The likes of Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate played in just about every game.
"The skipper wasn’t even there most of the time, and for young guys to carry that responsibility and get through it will give them enormous belief they can handle anything that is ahead. They can conquer anything and I do believe they will be stronger as a group.”
Postecoglou will demand another few days’ hard graft from his men in Sydney and then they can enjoy a well-earned break.
The same goes for the manager, who will finally get the chance to return home to Melbourne.
He said: “I haven’t been back home – my home as such - for four years. My family’s come over as well, so we’ll head down there on Monday. It will be just good to see some mates and people I haven’t seen for a long time. Just catch up and relax for a few days.
“I’ll try to switch off – but listen, the work never stops. There’s still stuff that needs to get done.”
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