Ange Postecoglou insists his success at Celtic has been 25 years in the making - and there’s nothing lucky about it.
The Parkhead boss can clinch the title on Sunday and the Scottish Cup final with Inverness will be the only thing standing in the way of a Treble in his second season in Glasgow. And while Postecoglou basked in the afterglow of another Old Firm victory in Sunday’s semi final, he once again referenced comments made by Rangers boss Michael Beale earlier in the campaign when the Ibrox manager labelled the Aussie ‘lucky’ to have the biggest budget in the country at his disposal.
“I don’t think any part of my job is easy, I don’t think any part of my job is lucky,” he said. “I don’t think any part of any manager’s job in whatever sort of environment they are working in is one where you can use those terms. Any manager in any position knows, irrespective of the circumstances, that it’s hard work. You’ve got to be totally dedicated.
“And you’ve got to always try to make the best decisions that you are asked to make every day. To dismiss this as something that should just happen naturally, because of who we are as a club, disregards so many factors that come into what it takes to be successful.
“It didn’t annoy me and it doesn’t motivate me. But I think people use that kind of language deliberately. I would never use that language about somebody in my position.
“I’m not sure which bit is ‘lucky’. I think Michael at the time was referring to the fact I had money to spend but you know what, I didn’t get to this position out of luck. I’ve worked 25 years of coaching to be entrusted at a club like this. This isn’t my first job. If it was my first job maybe I’d be lucky but it’s not, it’s 25 years of hard work.
“And I have to spend that money, and I can get it wrong. And many have, with bigger clubs than ours. So I’m not sure which bit is luck.
“I think everything you do in life and particularly in our game is hard-earned. That doesn’t mean that luck doesn’t come into it at different times but to describe any aspect of my role as fortunate or lucky I just don’t think it’s a fair reflection of anybody in my position.
“I don’t think Michael is in a lucky position just because he’s at a club which has resources that other clubs in Scotland don’t. I know he has to work hard if he is going to be successful, the same way I have.”
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