Two years ago today Celtic supporters started to dream about an unlikely treble under Ange Postecoglou in his first season as Celtic manager. And the hacks picked up on the theme in the post match interviews with the then Celtic manager after his side’s emphatic 3-0 win against Dundee United at Tannadice in the Scottish Cup quarter final.
Troubles not Trebles
Postecoglou reminded them that they’d all started talking about his troubles now it was all about trebles as he dismissed it out of hand. Here’s the reaction of the Celtic support to the manager after the win at Tannadice, courtesy of our sister site The Celtic Star. There’s clearly excitement and expectation in the air.
Celtic had already won the League Cup and had overtaken theRangers at the top of the league a month or so earlier. It was not a position Postecoglou’s side would lose right up until his departure the following season.
Five from Six Trophies Won
As it turned out Celtic narrowly lost the Scottish Cup semi-final to theRangers. That didn’t prevent a Celtic treble for Postecoglou, it only delayed it. By June 2023 the Australian manager the hacks laughed about coming into the club in June 2021 had won five trophies from six in the Scottish game and that was while having to start from pretty much scratch by building a new Celtic team.
Here’s what Gordon Strachan had to say about Ange Postecoglou ahead of his arrival in Glasgow to manage Celtic. 8th June, 2021, three days before Ange was appointed Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan’s words ring so true. Nobody called it quite like wee Gordon.
Talksport: Gordon Strachan has urged pundits to look into Ange Postecoglou’s successful career before criticising Celtic’s appointment.
“Everybody is over reacting as usual,” Gordon Strachan said. “The fact is that Ange, who’s coming in, if you actually look at what he does and the people who have worked with him, you’re talking about a top manager here.
“There’s no point in asking pundits because they’ve never watched him play, they’ve never seen his training, they’ve never seen his teams, they’ve never spoke to his players. Ask the players who have worked with a coach what he’s like, then you’ll find the truth.
Celtic people are excited
“I think that Celtic people are excited about this.
“I’ve always said, if you ever get the chance to be Celtic manager, take it. When the crowds get back, you’re getting some of the best nights in European football. It doesn’t get any better.
“I’m sure he’ll be a success. I’m excited to get somebody who’s outside the box, and not just a name that we regularly see.
“I want to see new people in front of a camera, I want to see new training methods – and I think that’s what we’re going to get.”
Here are the highlights from Tannadice as Celtic defeat Dundee United 3-0 in the Scottish Cup quarter finals two years ago today…
