“Are you serious?” – Chris Sutton reveals private Celtic pals Postecoglou conversation
Britain Football Soccer - Celtic v Borussia Monchengladbach - UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Group C - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 19/10/16 Genenral view of a statue of former Celtic player Billy McNeill outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Ange Postecoglou is enjoying the adulation of the worldwide Celtic support. And rightly so.
What the Celtic gaffer has pulled off this season is nothing short of miraculous.
Given no hope to win any silverware in what was meant to be the largest rebuild in Celtic’s recent history, the Aussie gaffer was really on a hiding to nothing.
But at least he had the universal backing of the fans after predictions that he would be sacked by Christmas right?
Not according to Chris Sutton.
When asked on the GegenPod Optus Sports podcast about his thoughts on the Ange sacked by Christmas narrative, Sutton replied, “Yeah, which was which was utterly ridiculous after what happened last season and how Celtic did implode.
“He had to bring his own players in, which was never going to be easy, and people forget because of the lateness of the appointment he was well behind in terms of recruitment.
“And then going into Champions League qualifiers playing two kids at centre half.
“It must have been so testing for him and so trying knowing that he didn’t have the players who he would want but the expectation and having to try and get into a Champions League and then the poor start to the league season losing through the first six games.
“And I remember a few of my Celtic pals, they were going up to Aberdeen, and and a couple of Celtic pals were saying, ‘Well, you know what, if they lose this game, this could be the end for Ange‘ and I said, ‘Are you serious? Are you really serious about that?’
“They said yeah, just just hasn’t been working.
“I thought that was madness.”
And at the time, it was. There was absolutely no doubt there was pressure on Ange at that time. If I remember correctly we were sitting 6th in the league table after losing three out of our first six games.
A result was imperative. And thankfully Jota’s 84th minute goal ensured we got those precious three points.
Because it doesn’t bare thinking about what may have happened if he didn’t.
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