Ange Postecoglou recognised the full significance of Celtic’s clean sheet against Jablonec.
It was much more than a stepping stone on the 7-2 aggregate win over the Czech side that had finished last season within touching distance of Sparta Prague.
Leading 2-0 early in the second half, Joe Hart pulled off two instinctive saves in quick succession that raised almost as big a cheer as any of the goals.
The former England keeper had been used sparingly in the first half but when called upon he came up with the goods. The 50,000 fans let him know just how welcome he is.
His manager told the Daily Record:
It was great for Joe. He didn’t have a lot to do on the night, but those two moments were great. He stood up. He now gets the feeling of knowing what it’s like to be part of a special club.
That’s what we want to do with the players, new ones especially. Make them understand they are at a special football club.
There are demands with that, there are pressures with that but if you deliver and show that sort of strength, there’s no better place to play.
Hart’s career has been in a long slow decline for some time but three games in eight days for a reborn Celtic have gone some way to turning things around for the man who was England’s first choice for seven years.
Postecoglou appears to be making a successful job of reviving Celtic from the passionless slumbers of last season- with Hart on board for a season of promise that no-one was predicting a month ago.
