Celtic's Ange Postecoglou reveals key to 9-0 rout of Dundee United

Celtic’s Aussie boss Ange Postecoglou reveals why his side kept running up the score in 9-0 rout of Dundee United – as he gears up for huge clash with arch-rivals Rangers

• The Hoops thrashed Dundee United to surge to the top of the Scottish ladder
• Now facing hectic schedule that includes matches against rival club Rangers and a UEFA Champions League showdown against Real Madrid
• It could pave the way for a Socceroos star to earn valuable minutes for Celtic 

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is confident the Scottish giants are honing their killer instinct as the Hoops prepare for huge matches against against arch rivals Rangers and Spanish giant Real Madrid. 

Postecoglou’s men thrashed Dundee United 9-0 at Tannadice on the weekend to maintain their perfect start to their Scottish Premiership title defence.

Celtic leads the ladder with 15 points from five matches and has scored 21 goals and conceded just one.

Postecoglou and Aaron Mooy at full time during a premiership match between Ross County and Celtic at the Global Energy Stadium

With Real Madrid coming to Glasgow for their Champions League clash just three days after the Rangers derby, Postecoglou wants his squad prepared for the huge clashes that lie around the corner.

That is why the Aussie manager said they could show no mercy – even in the dying minutes – of the Dundee United rout.

It is that merciless intent that Postecoglou wants his side to be defined by.

‘It’s the team we want to be — it’s not just about the football we want to play,’ Postecoglou said.

‘It’s about the intent and we don’t want to be led by the scoreboard or whatever the circumstances of the game are.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic is congratulated after scoring against Dundee United

‘With respect to whether it’s the first or the last minute, or whether we’re winning or not, we want to play at a certain tempo and intensity.’

‘It’s not just about winning a game of football — it’s about us setting our own standards within that.’

Rangers are two points behind in second place, having chalked up four wins and a draw from their five matches.

‘It´ll be a good game (against Rangers),’ former Socceroos manager Postecoglou told BBC Sportsound ahead of the Old Firm derby at Parkhead.

‘They´re going really well. They´re a good side, so it will be a good quality football game – we´re looking forward to it.’

Before meeting Rangers, the Hoops begin the defence of their Scottish League Cup crown on Thursday morning (AEST) against Ross County at Global Energy Stadium.

With a hectic upcoming schedule, including next week´s UEFA Champions League Group F clash against Spanish giants Real Madrid, Postecoglou could make a host of changes to his starting team for this week´s second-round Cup clash.

It could mean a start for Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy, who has had to be content with time off the bench since joining the Hoops last month.

Mooy heads clear from Dylan Levitt of Dundee United in their Scottish Premiership clash

‘Ross County will be a tough opponent in the cup, so we´ll have to be ready for it,’ Postecoglou told Celtic TV.

‘The pleasing thing is that we had contributions again from the bench (against Dundee United), which is important.

‘We´re going to have to rotate the squad during this period, so it´s good to know that the majority of them are in good condition and ready to go.’

Mooy came on for the final half-hour of Celtic’s rout of Dundee United.

The win was highlighted by hat-tricks from Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi and Israeli attacker Liel Abada, while Portuguese star Jota, Croatian fullback Josip Juranovic and Swedish defender Carl Starfelt also found the back of the net.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic gets in a cross as Dylan Levitt of Dundee United tries to close him down

‘We knew that Dundee United are going through a bit of a rough patch and it was important for us to impose ourselves on the game from the beginning,’ Postecoglou said.

‘The players did that, they worked hard and we got some quality goals at the end of it.

‘It’s not about joy because, at the same time, you respect that you´ve got an opposition manager (Jack Ross) who´s going through a tough time, and I think in this game you´ve got to stay humble and respectful.’

Neither of Dundee United’s two Australian players – goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and left back Aziz Behich – were used in the match.

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article