Ange Postecoglou was at his straight talking best as he faced the media, apparently to preview Sunday’s match with Dundee United.
The Tannadice clash was touched on but it was his thoughts on the Champions League and two clashes with Real Madrid in particular that were the main focus.
On Saturday morning the fixtures are out but regardless of what is happening domestically there is no getting away from the upcoming match in the Bernabeu Stadium.
The prospect of Champions League football would have been one of the big attractions in managing Celtic for the former Yokohama Marinos boss, but Postecoglou isn’t overly impressed by the gloss and trimmings that are attached to UEFA’s premier tournament.
Brendan Rodgers watched his side lose seven goals to Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, Postecoglou won’t take any comfort from the surroundings if his side fails to make an impression in the Spanish capital.
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I keep saying to the players that you can experience these things but usually you only remember it if it is a positive experience.
So there’s no point, I’m not one to say that ‘I’ve did this’ or ‘I’ve did that’, for me it is more important that we go there and have a positive experience, to do that we’ve got to play some good football against the best.
That’s when it becomes meaningful because, to be fair, you could pay for a tour of the Bernabeu, anyone can do that. As an experience it’s not that you unique, as a player what you want to do is when you get these opportunities, and that’s what I’ve tried to do in my career.
I’ve often said to players, it is better to swap shirts with a player you admire after you’ve knocked them off and beaten rather than just grab another shirt for your collection.
At some point tomorrow morning UEFA are expected to announce the full Champions League fixture list.
Incredible…. Someone actually asked about the Dundee game