Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LUCKY? GIVE ME A BREAK
Hoops didn’t get rub of the green insists boss
ANGE POSTECOGLOU insists Celtic didn’t enjoy the rub of the green after Callum Mcgregor’s freak winner bagged three priceless points against Aberdeen.
The Hoops boss (inset, top) refused to admit luck played a hand in the game’s decisive moment.
The Parkhead side remain four points behind leaders Rangers after a tension packed afternoon against the Dons.
Jota fired his fifth goal in five games to give Celts the lead but Lewis Ferguson levelled from the penalty spot as the Dons - who included former Hoops legend Scott Brown (inset, bottom) in their team - threatened to spring an upset.
A bizarre deflection off of Mcgregor for the winner eased the nerves around Parkhead and boss
Postecoglou was adamant fortune favoured the brave as Celtic claimed the 2-1 result.
He said: “I don’t know about luck. If you put yourself in those situations often enough, then y’know...
“We had a couple cleared off the line, we hit the post. Is that unlucky?
“I don’t know. In the end I think it was deserved. I don’t think we were just grinding today. We were still bright in areas.
“Aberdeen were well organised and we had to find creative ways to break them down.
“It’s not easy when the opposition sits so deep.
It wasn’t a game that was going to be open and entertaining but it’s important you get these victories.
“I still thought we got it with elements of our game, particularly the defensive side.
“People talk about the attack but we’re relentless defensively.
From Kyogo at the front to the boys at the back and in midfield, we work hard.”
Postecoglou also believes the Europa League exertions were a factor as he admits some of his side were drained emotionally by the loss to Bayer Leverkusen which demoted them to the Conference League.
He said: “The players put in a lot physically and emotionally on Thursday and we were disappointed by the outcome.
“A couple of days later we had to pick it up and I thought our energy was really good.
“We put some pressure on at the start and got our goal.
“They got the penalty, which brought them into the game a little bit, but then in the second half we went to another level in terms of our energy, our relentlessness to chase balls down.
“It’s really important because I know how
difficult that is to do, physically and mentally, after a big midweek night. I’m really pleased the players got their rewards.”
Postecoglou also believes his side’s display was a fitting tribute to Bertie
Auld.
The Lisbon Lion passed away earlier this month and there were pre-match moments of remembrance for the club legend.
Postecoglou said: “Yeah brilliant. His family are obviously going through a tough time and it was right that we honoured him in the right way.
“I think we did that in our performance in the semi-final and in Europe we played in the manner he would have been proud of.”