Ange Postecoglou says Celtic could be unstoppable in their charge towards another Premiership title.
The champions battered Old Firm rivals Rangers 4-0 at Parkhead yesterday in the first derby of the season. Liel Abada's double and goals from Jota and David Turnbull put the Hoops five points clear at the top of the table. And Postecoglou believes if they keep playing with the level of intensity they showed against Gers - it will be tough for any team to stop them in their tracks.
He said: “The league table isn’t important right now. What’s important is how we play. But if we continue to play like that, absolutely, we’re going to be hard to stop. That’s our intent. We want to be even better. So we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. Five points doesn’t get you anything right now - that was shown last year. But if we keep improving and playing like that? We’ll be hard to stop."
Now, Postecoglou's attention will turn to Tuesday night's Group F opener against Champions League holders Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are one of the favourites for the competition again but the Celtic gaffer is adamant they can cause Carlo Ancelotti's side problems.
He has vowed to play with the same purpose and intent as they did against Rangers. And if it doesn't work against Madrid, at least he'll know they gave it their best shot.
Postecoglou said: "We’ll get ready for Tuesday. They’re an unbelievable team with outstanding pedigree. They’re champions of Europe but we’ll go out there and test ourselves.
“We don’t need to change our approach to measure ourselves against the best. We’ll get really tested against Madrid but that’s what we want. You’ve got to respect the opposition. They’re a top team.
“But what we can control is what we bring. We’ll give our best, our way. That’s the key. This is who we are now as a team and won’t change. Is it a sign of how far we’ve come that we’re excited to take on Madrid? Potentially.
“But we just see it as an opportunity to measure up against the best. I’ve always felt the way to do that is by being yourself.
“We have to bring our own identity. People are pretty clear on what type of team we are. What a great opportunity to play our football. If we’re not successful, fair enough.
“But let’s go down swinging rather than deferring to someone because they’re a good team. Our supporters want us to take the game to Real Madrid and see where it takes us. Let’s have a crack anyway."
Postecoglou could be without two key players for Madrid's trip to Glasgow. Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi picked up a shoulder injury in the first minute against Gers, while Carl Starfelt limped off late on.
But the manager said: “It was disappointing for Kyogo because he’s been brilliant so far and was looking forward to the game.
“But that’s why we did our business in this window, to make sure we had a squad strong enough to cope. Last season, that may have cost us. Now we know that if we have to make a change, we can.
“Giorgos Giakoumakis was very good, he caused them a lot of problems. It’s too early to say with Kyogo for Tuesday night. It’s a shoulder injury. We’ll have a look at him and Carl over the next 24 hours.”
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