Ange Postecoglou has revealed that his Hampden team-talk will be part prepared and partly off the cuff.Â
The Australian hasn’t put a word out of place since joining Celtic last summer with his brand of management coupled with the brand of football played by his side creating the perfect dynamic.Â
With left-field questions at media conferences given the contempt that they deserve supporters have lapped up every comment from their new figurehead.Â
Today at Hampden Celtic are playing for a place against Hearts in the final of the Scottish Cup with the players and support having complete confidence in their manager.Â
Many media trained managers and coaches parrot out similar phrases and soundbites but before they head out for kick-off today there will be some special words for the Celtic players to take on board.Â
Discussing his pre-match preparations, Postecoglou told the Daily Record:Â
I have to make sure that if there’s anything out there I can help the players with, I’m sharp in my mind to deal with it. So that time before the game is used as preparation for that.Â
It’s what I’ve done since the start of my managerial career and it’s my own way of preparing for games.Â
Was the League Cup Final speech planned or off the cuff? A bit of both. Whenever I speak to my players, it’s important that whatever information I give is relevant to the moment.Â
I have to understand the mood and know what the players may or may not require. I don’t speak to the players a lot but when I do I try to make sure they get my message.Â
Because whether it’s in the final moments before the game or the lead up to it, my role is to try to provide some guidance to them – whether that’s in a football sense or for the actual occasion itself.Â
It’s a little bit of preparation on my part but also, from my experience, what I feel the room needs.Â
The Celtic players will already know today’s starting XI but the fans will have to wait until 12.45 before the team is announced.Â