After the best part of two years Ange Postecoglou is well versed in the booby-traps that can be laid at media conferences.
Ahead of a Glasgow Derby he is even more primed for any potential war of words, especially so when it involves refereeing matters.
The comments of other managers might excite and interest the news and sports desks but especially in terms of David Martindale you’re not going to get a reaction out of the Celtic manager.
Micky Beale has had plenty to say for himself since arriving at Ibrox, one comment about Postecoglou being lucky managed to get a response.
Earlier this week the Ibrox boss claimed that having no away fans at Saturday’s Derby would put extra pressure on referee Kevin Clancy, with a shrug and a grin Postecoglou side-stepped creating some easy pre-match headlines.
5 min 30 seconds:
QUESTION: Just on the situation with no away fans, Michael Beale said this week that e feels that could put extra pressure on the referee given that there is no away support. Where do you stand on that?
Ominous pause…
AP: I don’t stand on that (laughing) either way, U don’t know, does that mean that 700 supporters would? I mean, I don’t understand so, look I don’t worry about that stuff, like I said what is important tomorrow is that we perform well in front of our supporters, there’ll be a great atmosphere and that’s where our focus will lie.
Clancy has already refereed the Glasgow Derby three times with Celtic losing each match. Nick Walsh will be on VAR duty.