ANGE Postecoglou was handed an early birthday present by the Celtic directors on Thursday when the signing of Sead Haksabanovic was finally completed.
His players belatedly marked the occasion when they annihilated Dundee United at Tannadice this afternoon and returned to the top of the cinch Premiership table in impressive fashion.
Rangers comfortable league win over Ross County at Ibrox yesterday had seen them leapfrog their city rivals into first place.
Callum McGregor and his team mates responded in some style by romping to a record Premiership away victory.
Kyogo Furuhashi claimed the second hat-trick of his Celtic career in the opening 45 minutes to take his tally for the 2022/23 campaign to six and Liel Abada matched his feat in the season-half to record his first. But every one of the visitors' players were sensational.
Far bigger challenges await the Scottish champions. United are rooted to bottom spot, have now lost five games in succession and conceded 24 goals in the process. Their manager Jack Ross is, just weeks into his tenure, under intense pressure. He will not survive if this diabolical run continues.
Ross has presided over a record European defeat to AZ Alkmaar and this record Premiership loss to Celtic this month.
There must be a stark improvement in the Premier Sports Cup encounter with Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Wednesday night or he will suffer the inevitable consequences. If, that is, he is not sacked before then.
Celtic’s next three outings – Ross County in Dingwall in midweek, Rangers at Parkhead in the Premiership on Saturday and then European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages at home three days – will be far more exacting.
Still, Posteocglou, who turned 57 yesterday, can go into those fixtures with confidence after this formidable show of strength.
The Greek-Australian made three changes to the starting line-up which had taken to the field against Hearts seven days ago; Carl Starfelt, Reo Hatate and Abada came in as Moritz Jenz, David Turnbull and Daizen Maeda dropped out.
Ross, meanwhile, freshened his side up considerably in the wake of their 3-0 mauling by St Mirren last weekend. Charlie Mulgrew, Aziz Behich, Jamie McGrath and Tony Watt were relegated to the bench and Scott McMann, Ross Graham, Archie Meekison Kieran Freeman took their places.
Haksabanovic, the Swedish-born Montenegro internationalist who put pen to paper on a five year deal with the Glasgow club last week, was not included the Celtic match day squad.
The forward, who spent last season on loan with Djurgardens in his homeland after his contract with Rubin Kazan in Russia was cancelled, will need to find his best form quickly to feature in this side. Liel Abada and Jota shone throughout.
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart denied Glenn Middleton in just the second minute. But he suffered a head injury when Steven Fletcher attempted to pounce on the rebound. Hart required six minutes of medical attention and a new strip before he could continue. Fletcher received a yellow card for his rash challenge.
The former England internationalist put a Josip Juranovic passback out for a corner shortly after play resumed when he proved unable to chest it down. But he was hardly involved thereafter.
Celtic got the rout underway in the 15th minute after Abada sent Jota clear down the left flank with a perfectly-weighted through ball from the halfway line. His team mate squared to Furuhashi first time and the striker took a touch before drilling beyond Carljohan Eriksson.
Giorgos Giakoumakis was not involved yesterday. The Greek internationalist was laid low by the flu and stayed at home. But Celtic have an abundance of talented individuals who pose a threat in the final third and they did not miss him.
Eriksson produced excellent saves from Matt O’Riley, Hatate and Abada efforts. His side very nearly snatched an equaliser against the run of play as a result of his heroics. Scott McMann dispossessed Juranovic just outside the Celtic penalty box and Middleton fired beyond Hart and just wide of the right post. But that moment was brief respite from the onslaught.
Furuhashi bagged another five minutes before half-time after O’Riley had prodded the ball away from McMann. He curled a first-time shot into the top right corner. He completed his hat-trick from close range after being supplied by Abada in added-on time.
A wretched half of football was completed when Jota got in on the act after being picked out by O’Riley a few yards out. It was all too much for the United supporters. They headed for the exits in their droves.
Their nightmare continued in the second-half. Abada rounded off a slick attack just five minutes after the restart, Juranovic struck after a O’Riley free-kick rebounded back off the defensive wall and spun to his feet and then Abada turned in a Hatate cross.
Postecoglou made a quadruple substitution after Celtic had gone seven ahead; Furuhashi, Jota, O’Riley and Hatate were replaced by Maeda, James Forrest, Turnbull and Aaron Mooy. Maeda played Abada in for his hat-trick and then Starfelt headed in a Turnbull corner.
Celtic clinched the Scottish title on their previous visit to Tannadice back in May thanks to a 1-1 draw – this remakrable triumph keeps them two points in front of their nearest challengers and firmly on course to retain their trophy.
