Ange Postecoglou has expressed his gratitude to Celtic’s followers after celebrating his one centesimal match answerable for the Hoops with a 3-1 win over Hearts at Parkhead.
Regardless of admitting “we weren’t nice”, Postecoglou praised his aspect’s “mentality” after the Scottish champions got here again from a objective all the way down to win with objectives from Japanese pair Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi and Montenegro worldwide Sead Haksabanovic.
“We needed to work laborious for it,” Postecoglou instructed Celtic TV.
“We didn’t appear to get into our groove by way of our soccer. A few of that’s as a result of I made a number of adjustments and that disrupted issues … so I’ve to make allowances for that.
“In the end, the gamers nonetheless confirmed a extremely robust mentality and it’s highlighted once more with the standard of our three nice objectives.”
Following the match, Celtic supporters unveiled a banner that learn: “Passed by Christmas? Right here’s to 100 extra.”
It was in reference to the various critics of Postecoglou’s appointment who felt that after getting the Celtic job in June 2021 he could be sacked inside six months.
Nonetheless, the previous Socceroos coach has been an enormous success on the Hoops, having already secured the Scottish title and two League Cups throughout his tenure.
“I respect the help I’ve had from the followers for the reason that day I arrived,” Postecoglou stated.
“I haven’t felt something however help, even when it wasn’t that evident what we had been doing. They received behind me and the group and that has by no means been misplaced on me.
“I wish to repay that and I attempt to do this each day.”
Celtic’s win in a match involving 5 Socceroos – Hoops midfielder Aaron Mooy and Hearts quartet Kye Rowles, Cameron Devlin, Nathaniel Atkinson and Garang Kuol – maintained their nine-point lead on the prime of the Scottish Premiership desk.
The 2 groups meet once more on Saturday evening (AEDT) in a Scottish Cup quarter-final battle at Tynecastle.
“We’re stepping into the interval of the season the place everybody has one thing to play for.” Postecoglou stated.
