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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Postecoglou defends approach after O'Riley Celtic Rodgers remark

Ange Postecoglou has defended his reserved management approach after Matt O'Riley highlighted the difference between him and Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic midfielder O'Riley had suggested Rodgers' appointment had brought a "refreshing change" to the club with the new Parkhead boss "not reluctant" to join players at lunch.

It's a difference from Postecoglou who is open in his dislike for small talk, something he says even his close friends are aware of outside of football.

Discussing the difference under Rodgers, O'Riley had told Celtic TV: "So far it has been amazing, everyone seems quite upbeat.

"I think he brings that just in terms of how he goes about things.

"He is not reluctant to come and sit with us at lunch and have a chat which I think is quite nice.

"It's a nice refreshing change in a sense to have a bit more openness about the place so I'm looking forward to that."

Now, Postecoglou has opened up on his approach and insisted he always has his players' back even if he's not in the habit of talking about their day over lunch.

Explaining his attitude toward player engagement and his own methods, he told Football London: "Other managers are really engaging with players, I get that. If you look at it, that’s probably their personality. They walk into a room and everyone gravitates towards them. That’s not me.

"I just try to be me, but within that context, it doesn't mean I don’t talk to players. If a player has got an issue, I'll sit down and engage. It's really important for the players that they know that I have their back, that I care for them.

"But that doesn't always have to come by me sitting down with them at lunch and talking with them about how their day was. It's just not who I am."

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