The Sun has published the full transcript of Ange Postecoglou’s exchange with Brian McLaughlin after Wednesday’s defeat from Hibs at Easter Road.
While the kid-gloves treatment is applied to certain managers the BBC Scotland reporter was determined to make the most of questioning the Celtic boss after a rare defeat.
McLaughlin is a Hearts and golf fan but highly thought of within BBC Scotland and regularly sent through to Murray Park to put a gloss on Micky Beale’s words of wisdom.
Replacing five tried and tested stars with a free agent from Norwich seems like a high risk strategy but not an issue Beale will ever have to answer, similarly you won’t find out how UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations will impact on the summer war-chest.
Apparently a leaner squad of lower paid players coming in as free agents is the way forward in contrast to last summer’s £15m spending spree from Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
No bravery tablets are required when quizzing the Celtic boss with The Sun reporting:
McLaughlin: “I know you said at the weekend that you’re not learning too much about the squad just now, but do you need a stronger squad to go through and exceed…”
Postecoglou (laughing): “Oh come on mate! Come on, come on, come on.”
McLaughlin: “I know you’ve won the league…”
Postecoglou: “So what do you want us to do, win the league by 20 points next season? Is that the thing?
“Look I get it, I understand the questioning, but you know what if you want to measure us by the last three games by all means, but you’d probably need a different manager as well.”
McLaughlin: “I’m not doing that. I’m not doing that.”
Postecoglou: “This squad has handled Champions League, it’s in the final of a cup competition, won a cup competition, won the league.
“Squad’s fine. We’ll strengthen as we always do. Like I say, this is on me, I’m making a lot of changes. I’m putting a lot of guys in there who haven’t played a lot of football and that’s why we’re getting these results.”
Once a Loser, Always a Loser!
You’d almost think they have an inward looking mentality.