Ange Postecoglou has told the SFA that two Celtic friendlies in Australia are more important than next Wednesday’s Turkey v Scotland match.
Ahead of the World Cup Finals starting in Qatar on November 20, FIFA has authorised a week of friendly matches with the SFA opting for a jaunt to sunny Turkey before Ian Maxwell, Rod Petrie and others head on to Qatar for some networking.
Throughout the football season clubs find themselves playing second fiddle to the International calendar at all times but next week’s friendlies don’t fall into the same category.
The Glasgow Times reports Postecoglou saying:
The international games coming up in this break are not sort of compulsory for us to release players.
From our perspective, the Australian trip is an important part of our football club and we want to take our strongest possible team there.
We will always be supportive of the national team and Steve Clarke has always been great with us in terms of his relationship with the club.
But all of our players who won’t be going to the World Cup will be coming with us.Â
We’re obviously taking a team to Australia. People have bought tickets and want to see the best possible Celtic side.
Obviously we can’t take the players who are going to the World Cup, but we have obligations there to the people who have spent the money that we go there with the strongest possible team and that’s what we’ll be doing.
Celtic play Sydney FC on November 17, the day after the Scotland match then the hoops face Everton three days later.
Aaron Mooy, Daizen Maeda, Josip Juranovic and Cameron Carter-Vickers look certain to be going to the World Cup Finals with Jota named in a 55 man Portugal squad to assemble next week.
Liel Abada, Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis are likely to be selected for friendly matches next week.
Well Done Ange….Celtic pay players Wages therefore We get their loyalty!!