Ange Postecoglou reveals his long term vision

Ange Postecoglou was literally dropped in at the deep end. 

With a badly depleted squad bolstered only by Liel Abada, Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide he was given the task of getting Celtic past Midtjylland and two more qualifiers to reach the group stage of the Champions League. 

In those circumstances taking the Danes to extra-time before losing out wasn’t to be sniffed at, Celtic’s options were so light that Albian Ajeti came off the bench in both legs. 

It was just another qualifying failure under Ian Bankier, the fourth in succession, but with one eye on the future Postecoglou was planning to lead Celtic back into Europe’s most prestigious tournament. 

With Real Madrid meeting Liverpool in this season’s final the SPFL champions go into next season’s group stage- with Celtic a effectively one win in three matches away from reclaiming the title. 

Explaining his longer term Champions League plan the hoops boss told Celtic TV: 

I was well aware at the start of the year that was the likelihood this season. We knew it was an important title to win because of all the benefits you get from being guaranteed group stage Champions League football. 

That’s the level we all want to be at with this club, so of course that’s a massive incentive but first of all, we want to bring joy and success to our supporters after last year. 

You want to give them the success and you know that once the season is over, if we have achieved the ultimate and won the league, that their summer is going to look a lot different than it did last summer. 

That’s what we want. That’s what we want to try to achieve.