Ibrox coach slams Ange Postecoglou with ‘one or two things said that left a little taste in the mouth’ from Hampden triumph

Neil Banfield has accused Ange Postecoglou of saying one or two things that left a little taste in the mouth after the Viaplay Cup Final victory in February.

Banfield followed Micky Beale to Ibrox in November as assistant manager and has kept a very low profile until now.

A week before the two Glasgow clubs meet at Hampden in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup it seems that the 61-year-old has been trawling for comments to get upset by.

In almost two years in Scottish football Postecoglou has barely said a word out of place, comments on opposing players and managers have always been diplomatic.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail Banfield had a few choice comments to make about the Celtic boss:

I have got to say he has been first-class. (But) he said one or two things that I have remembered and I will remember.

For what he has achieved at Celtic, we say well done. The use of the market has been excellent and I like the way they play. But he said one or two things that make you want to say: “Okay, right, we’re coming”. And that’s okay, that is what it’s all about. They’ll want to come at us. 

That’s what top-level managers are all about. That’s the world we live in. 

There’s respect there, no doubt. He is a good football guy and he works for Celtic but he has said things that leave a little taste in the mouth. I’ll keep that to myself but he made a quote after the final and it landed on me. 

And you think: “Yeah, okay I’ll take that”. Next time we’ll turn that round.

It seems that Banfield and the Daily Mail have been chosen to get a certain message out there ahead of the Hampden clash.

There is no suggestion anywhere in the article about what words upset the Ibrox Number 2, if it was from a media interview, on the touchline or after the final whistle.