Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Ange Postecoglou, Giovanni van Bronckhorst react as Celtic hit four past Rangers

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 September 2022, 15:17
Ange Postecoglou believes his high-flying Celtic side will be "hard to stop" this season after they cruised past rivals Rangers to win 4-0 in the Old Firm derby on Saturday lunchtime.

Despite losing star striker Kyogo Furuhashi only five minutes into the first half with a shoulder injury, the Hoops opened the scoring just three minutes later when Liel Abada's powerful strike beat the outstretched hand of Jon McLaughlin.

Jota doubled Celtic's lead with a cute chip from a tight angle just after the half-hour mark, before Abada netted his second and the host's third with a fizzed effort through the legs of McLaughlin five minutes before the break.

While the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Scott Wright and Scott Arfield were unable to make an impact off the bench for Rangers in the second half, Celtic substitute David Turnbull added a fourth for Celtic just six minutes after entering the field of play, with a mistake from McLaughlin allowing the midfielder to seal a comfortable victory at Parkhead.

Celtic have maintained their 100% start to the new Scottish Premiership season, with the reigning champions sitting at the top of the table after scoring 25 goals and conceding only one from their opening six matches.

Speaking after the match, Postecoglou emphasised the importance of claiming maximum points in the Old Firm derby in front of their own supporters, and how he has been particularly pleased with his side's "outstanding" form so far this term.

"It was a big game, we knew that. The boys were outstanding from start to finish," the Australian told BBC Sportsound.

"We know what this game means to our supporters. We've given them another memorable day and the players deserve all the credit for that."

When questioned on his views about sitting five points clear of Rangers after just six matches, Postecoglu added: "What's more important to me is how we're playing, that's a better indicator.

"You can win games in many ways, but our form has been outstanding and we've been getting better every week. If we keep going like that, we're going to be hard to stop."

Postecoglou also provided an update on injured duo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt, adding: "It was a shoulder injury [for Furuhashi]. Carl had a niggle in his knee.

"It's a bit of blow because Kyogo has been in brilliant form so far this season and it was disappointing for him as I know he was looking forward to the game."

As for Rangers, manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst stated that he and his side now need to reflect on their "very disappointing" performance at Parkhead.

"You know the start you have is very important in how the game will develop. We knew the threat they had with quick throw-ins and free-kicks," the Dutchman told BBC Sportsound.

"We were exposed twice, which gave two goals away. For me, that's very disappointing. We knew they were going to do [restart quick] and still we weren't prepared enough.

"The longer the nil is on the scoreboard, the more you can grow in the game. Today, that wasn't the case. I'm disappointed we couldn't give the game we wanted for our fans.

"Everyone needs to reflect in what they did well and what they did wrong, same for me."

Asked about the five-point gap to Celtic at the summit, Van Bronckhorst added: "There are still a lot of games to be played, plus three games against Celtic, so we have to move on and get stronger and make sure the moments we had today can never happen again, no matter who we play."

Both Celtic and Rangers will now turn their attention to two huge Champions League group-stage matches next week, with the Hoops welcoming holders Real Madrid to Parkhead while the Gers visit Ajax in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Top News

18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United are reportedly preparing to make an official approach for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Football has always been a young man's game, and the age of 30 is often seen as a watershed for a player's prime years. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly decided to prioritise the acceleration of academy graduates into the first team over major signings this summer. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Chelsea's Champions League heroes from 2012 has announced his retirement. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could reportedly be set to lose four first-team stars this summer, including midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa are reportedly weighing up a reunion with Roma striker Tammy Abraham this summer. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to sell a trio of wantaway talents in order to fuel major incomings this summer. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The countdown to the 2024-25 Premier League season is on, with the fresh term kicking off just 90 days after the conclusion of what was an exhilarating 2023-24 campaign. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mats Hummels is seemingly closing in on a transfer to a La Liga club after his exit from Borussia Dortmund. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly changed their stance over the asking price of defender Joe Rodon. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The French Football Association has decided how to handle the broken nose that was suffered by Kylian Mbappe on Monday night. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League champions will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the standout fixture of the opening weekend in the 2024-25 season. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The 17th edition of the European Championship is well and truly underway, and there have already been plenty of gripping encounters between the majority of the 24 nations taking part at Euro 2024. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey vs. Georgia (Tuesday, 5.00pm) Group F at Euro 2024 will get underway on Tuesday evening in Dortmund, with Turkey and Georgia locking horns for what is likely to be a very important match in the section. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake. 18 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina star Lionel Messi will feature at a seventh Copa America when he represents his country at this summer's tournament in the USA. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly learned Crystal Palace's asking price for England defender Marc Guehi. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly earmarked Monaco full-back Vanderson as a replacement for Emerson Royal. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gremio will hope to move out of the Brasileiro drop zone this week when they head to Estadio Governador Placido Aderaldo Castelo to face Fortaleza on Thursday morning. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have been dealt a transfer blow after it was revealed that Pedro Lima would be signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly unprepared to compromise on their £25m valuation for defender Joao Cancelo. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France's opening Euro 2024 victory over Group D rivals Austria came at quite the cost for Kylian Mbappe, who suffered a gruesome injury in Monday's 1-0 triumph at the Merkur Spiel-Arena. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kylian Mbappe helped France begin their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria despite being forced off with an injury late on. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly on the brink of completing a deal to sign a talented teenage centre-back from one of their Premier League rivals. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Struggling Corinthians travel to Estadio Orlando Scarpelli on Thursday to face Internacional in the Brasileiro, hoping to make this a turning point for their season. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to announce a new contract for defender Jonny Evans, extending his stay at the club by a further year. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia have recorded the shock of Euro 2024 so far with a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Frankfurt. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly prepared to consider offers for Raheem Sterling this summer, should Crystal Palace's Michael Olise arrive at Stamford Bridge. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has reportedly informed his friends of a key decision surrounding his Manchester United future.