That’s a failure- Ange keeps his feet on the ground over Celtic’s progress

Ange Postecoglou has outlined his Champions League ambitions after sampling all three UEFA competitions in one season. 

The first competitive match that the Australian took charge of was the Champions League qualifiers against Midtjylland. With just Liel Abada, Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide added to last season’s squad it was no surprise when Celtic fell as the first hurdle. 

By the time that the Europa League group matches came around Celtic were a work-in-motion while the Europa Conference seemed an inconvenience as domestic options grew stronger. 

It has been a novel experience for Postecoglou but he is in no doubt about the stage that he wants to see Celtic competing at. 

Reflecting on his European experiences with Mark Schwarzer on Optus Sport, the Celtic boss said:  

Our actual group stage (Europa League) was good. We kind of grew into it. We had Leverkusen and they were a fantastic side and Real Betis who were flying in Spain. So I knew it was going to be a massive challenge for us, but when you look at it, we started the group slowly, but we finished pretty decent, pretty strong. 

We ended up winning three games and in a lot of other groups that would’ve got you through. It’s the two games against Bodo/Glimt that we kind of let ourselves down.  

You’re probably right, it was maybe a bridge too far for us this year to be sort of trying to compete on multiple fronts but the reality of it is, that’s a failure on our behalf because this football club will always be involved in Europe and we want to be involved in the Champions League. 

So you’ve got to be able to cope with that, withstand that, embrace that pressure. So, we’ll learn from that this year that, that part of the journey, wasn’t a success for us. And I’ve got to make sure that we address those things, but I’m sure the players, would’ve learned a hell of a lot through that whole exercise. 

As I said, that’s part of this football club. You’ve got to be willing to be up for the fight in multiple tournaments, you can’t just say, well, we we’re just going to compete in two this year. That’s not going to happen. 

With seven matches still to play this season Celtic are three points clear at the top of the SPFL knowing that the winners will go directly into next season’s Champions League group stage. 

“I felt more respected in Japan than I do in Australia.” ?

Ange’s tell-all with @Schwarzer_Mark on leaving the ‘Roos, AFL five-year plans at @CelticFC, returning to Australia & more ???

A sneak preview ahead of the full 50-minute discussion, dropping on the app tomorrow ? pic.twitter.com/U855Qi1DVt

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) March 22, 2022