THANK MY LUCKY STARFELTS I PLAY FOR BIG ANGE
Postecoglou’s all-out style is a bit different but it’s making me a better player says Carl
CARL STARFELT admits life is just that little bit different being a centre-back in an Ange Postecoglou team.
But the Swede reckons if he can cope with the Aussie’s demands, he will elevate himself to the next level.
Starfelt has been plunged into the gaffer’s eye-opening style, an approach that sees his full-backs speed off to assist the offensive unit, leaving the boys in central defence to hold the fort.
It wouldn’t be an easy adjustment for an established stalwart. For a signing coming into a new club and country with a £4million price tag to justify, it has to be even tougher. But Starfelt is loving it. While fellow summer recruits Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada have captured the imagination with their flair, the defender is settling quietly into his role and responsibilities.
The 26-year-old believes he can only improve and said: “It’s a bit different to playing in many other teams but I enjoy it a lot. It demands a lot from you but it’s also good for your development.
“If you can manage to play here, then you will develop a lot and it’s fun football we are playing.
“The style Ange wants to play is working right now, so we’re feeling more and more confident in the system.
“It’s fun for the players but also for the supporters to watch. I’m enjoying it a lot and I feel like I’m settling in more and more.
“It will, of course, take some time to fully settle into a new team but I feel like I’m getting better in every game. I’m enjoying life outside of football as well, so that’s perfect.”
Starfelt has an opportunity tonight to build his reputation at Celtic. Heading to Alkmaar with a 2-0 lead, solidity in the backline may be all that’s needed to bring Europa League group stage
football to Celtic Park.
He added: “Of course it is important for us. We will do everything we can to get through and hopefully we can then look forward to some fun games there.
“The European nights are a big attraction for players to come here. It’s not many clubs that get European matches, only the top clubs in a good league. My experiences of Celtic Park have been amazing. The fans have been so good, not only in the European games but in every game. I’m not used to that kind of support and those kinds of fans, so it’s been well above my expectations.
“We’ve had some incredible nights already and we have good confidence in the team right now. We feel we’ve found a good rhythm.
“We are very excited to go into a big week and a very exciting game. We’ll need to bring our best to get through.
“It always gives you confidence when you are getting good results but it’s not only that, we’ve also played very well in many games.
“It’s going to be a big test. Alkmaar showed at Celtic Park they are a very good team, so we need to be ready.”
The clean sheet in the first leg was one of four in the last five games for Starfelt and Co.
Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh, 22 and 21 respectively, were outstanding last Wednesday night and the Swede says they could easily step on to the international scene, despite missing out on Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for World Cup qualifiers against Denmark, Moldova and Austria.
Starfelt said: “They are two very good players and have done very well. They are young but why not?
“I’ve been impressed by them. It has been easy to play beside them.
“I have been impressed that they are doing so well despite their young age also, so they have been great.”
Joe Hart pulled off big saves against AZ and will likely be needed to excel again to complete the mission.
Starfelt added: “Joe is a very good guy, a very good goalkeeper, and also a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room.
“What a career he has had. You can learn a lot from such a player, even though we aren’t in the same position.
“You can learn from his mentality. He’s always shouting at us and he’s demanding a lot from us, so that’s great.
“We have to be solid defensively in every game but we are confident in our playing style.
“We just need to keep going with it and not change too much.
“Do the stuff we are already doing but do it a little bit better.”
At the other end of the pitch Furuhashi – who grabbed Celtic’s opener in the first leg – can do significant damage again.
The Japanese was racially abused in footage that emerged on social media last weekend.
Celtic immediately condemned the acts and Postecoglou spoke up in support of the 26-year-old.
Starfelt has done the same and said: “I’ve only got good things to say about Kyogo.
“First of all, he’s a very good player but he’s also a very nice guy.
“He fits into our playing style very well and also to our squad.
“Of course we have shown him our support this week – that’s all we can do.”