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
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Ange Postecoglou felt his late father would have enjoyed Celtic performance

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 August 2021, 17:42
Ange Postecoglou felt his Celtic team had produced the sort of attacking football that would have thrilled his late father during their 3-2 Premier Sports Cup win over Hearts.

Odsonne Edouard and Stephen Welsh were on target as Celtic dominated the first half and set up a quarter-final against Raith Rovers.

Kyogo Furuhashi struck his fifth goal in four starts after Carl Starfelt's mistake had allowed Liam Boyce to pull one back from the penalty spot, and a stoppage-time goal from Hearts substitute Aaron McEneff only disguised the margin of Celtic's domination.

Celtic had 35 shots at goal to the visitors' five with former Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon keeping the score down.

Postecoglou had previously admitted his father Jim's approval was his main driver as a young manager, after his playing career as a functional defender did not quite satisfy the Greek-Australian's love of free-flowing football.

"That's the kind of football my father instilled in me," Postecoglou said. "He's up there now, but I always envisage him in the stands and think about what he'd say about the team.

"He was never that enraptured by results, he just wanted to see a certain type of football. I know he would have been off his chair in the first half especially.

"We played great but more importantly, the players enjoyed it and they got their rewards.

"I thought the first hour we were really good, the best football we played this year. We dominated and the only thing we didn't take advantage of was some unbelievable opportunities to put the game to bed.

"The football was outstanding, the intent was outstanding. We never took our foot off the pedal and credit to the players, in the middle of a heavy schedule, that they were able to push that far in.

"The last half hour we got a bit ragged for sure, a bit of fatigue set in, some lapses in concentration, but I was really pleased with the football we played.

"You are never going to totally dominate a game for 90 minutes. It doesn't matter who you are, there's always going to be times when the opposition get into the game."

There was no frustration on Postecoglou's part that the score did not reflect the pattern of play.

"If your standards drop a little bit, then you can very well be punished," he added. "But that's what keeps you honest, it just keeps us motivated to keep improving."

Postecoglou has revealed Ryan Christie is a doubt for Wednesday's Europa League play-off first leg against AZ Alkmaar after missing this game with a minor injury but Liel Abada is expected to return.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson was happier with his side's display after bringing on winger Josh Ginnelly for midfielder Andy Halliday - who had a slight knock - and changing shape.

"I thought in the first half we were too passive at times," he said. "When you come to Celtic Park you have to be on the front foot, you have to make tackles, you have to be aggressive. We didn't do that.

"We allowed them to pass it about too easily. We changed it at half-time and that allowed us to get more positivity into the team. I thought in the second half we were much better.

"We knew that Ginnelly wasn't going to be fit for the start of game. We knew we were only going to get 30 or 40 minutes out of him.

"We brought him on at half-time and his pace changed the game. It allowed us to get up the pitch."

Top News

24 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's blockbuster Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start with a goal inside two minutes against Ipswich. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has joined an exclusive Premier League managers' club thanks to the Reds' thrilling 3-2 fightback win over Southampton at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson in January. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Southampton have topped the standings in an unwelcome statistic after sloppily conceding at home to Liverpool. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester City have announced they have parted company with manager Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian further extended his record-breaking season in the Brasileiro as Palmeiras defeated Atletico Goianiense on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool passed one of the most difficult examinations of their Premier League title credentials yet as they fought back from a goal down to triumph 3-2 over a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have announced the departure of manager Steve Cooper, with the 44-year-old being sacked off the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Lille attacker Angel Gomes, with the North London club potentially getting a deal done during the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City will reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during next summer's transfer window. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney is preparing a move for a young Liverpool striker who is the son of an ex-Birmingham City star. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk From dark horses to genuine contenders for the Serie A crown, Atalanta BC now hope to enhance their Champions League credentials on Tuesday, when they visit BSC Young Boys. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder his career at the top level may be over after a tough game against former employers Tottenham. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting results on the fourth matchday of the 2024-25 Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg cross paths on Tuesday evening in their latest European affair. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney admits he'd like to partake in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but an appearance isn't imminent. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich remain without the services of Joao Palhinha for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which could mean a start in central midfield for Leon Goretzka. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Marquinhos back into their side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie O'Hara had plenty to say after Tottenham Hotspur's rampant 4-0 win at Manchester City. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has admitted that he was affected by comments made by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Stamford Bridge. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are reportedly contemplating whether to enter the race for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Allianz Arena will play host to a blockbuster contest in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Bayern Munich welcoming Paris Saint-Germain, and both sides will be under pressure to pick up a positive result. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams competing for a spot in the Championship playoff places will meet on Tuesday evening, as Watford host Bristol City at Vicarage Road for matchday 17 of the 2024-25 season. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly reached a decision over the asking price of Evan Ferguson. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Avoiding a catastrophic sixth defeat in a row will be the aim for Manchester City when Feyenoord touch down at the Etihad for Tuesday's Champions League league phase showdown.
Tomorrow at 17:30
A
Empoli Empoli
-
sch
Udinese Udinese
Thu 28 Nov, 17:45
EL
Qarabag Qarabag
-
sch
Lyon Lyon
Thu 28 Nov, 20:00
EL
Nice Nice
-
sch
Rangers Rangers