Ange: I know all about what Martin’s team achieved and the fantastic support that followed club to Spain.. I only need to look at pics on wall for a reminder. I love having chance to create our own history
ANGE POSTECOGLOU only has to look around his Celtic manager’s office to see the significance of Seville.
Photographs of legendary boss Martin O’Neill adorn the walls from that glorious run to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.
Supporters travelled en masse to the Spanish city to see their heroes take on Porto.
Jose Mourinho’s side may have come out on top but that night still remains a special one for everyone connected with Celtic.
Postecoglou takes charge of the current team this evening back in Seville for their Europa League group opener with Real Betis in the Benito Villamarin Stadium.
A trip that carries something that bit more special as the Hoops manager said: “I’m very aware.
“I’m sitting in a room now surrounded by images of Martin O’Neill and the fantastic Celtic support that followed us there for that game, so it’s not lost on me.
“If you can create a special memory, it’s chronicled here and elevated to a status where the people involved can one day come back here in years to come and reflect on it.”
Postecoglou knows the difficulties in store, jetting out yesterday with a depleted squad to take on a La Liga outfit he rates highly.
It makes the challenge of trying to become the first Hoops manager in history to win a European game on Spanish soil even more daunting.
Even so, Celtic will be looking to get off the mark in a challenging group that Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros complete.
Postecoglou added: “There aren’t many facts about Celtic that
I’m not aware of. You’re constantly reminded of the successes and the near misses that have happened at this club.
“That’s why I love being involved – there are opportunities at every junction to create our own memories and history.
“That’s why you come to a club like Celtic.”
As it happens, this season’s showpiece will be held in Seville – in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium across the city.
The former Australia gaffer is still putting his stamp on this team and it is more a case of tiny steps than grand predictions.
He said: “I don’t think it’s something you mention when you’re just beginning a journey.
“Wherever the final was, I don’t think anyone would not want to be involved in it.
“It would make some great headlines for you guys, some symmetry if we got there again. But we’re at game one and we’re playing a really good team away from home.
“Our focus has to be on that. The important thing is, let’s go here without any fear and try to play the football we have been playing at home, try to take the game to a quality opponent.”
The 56-year-old was diplomatic when pressed on what would be viewed as success in Europe for Celts this term.
Postecoglou said: “When you play in any
competition you try to get some success. What that success looks like at the end, there are many different measures.
“For me, we’re still in the kind of embryonic stages of building a football team and a style of football I want us to take forward into every game we play. “That’s what success will look like to me – if we can really make an impact with our football in what is a challenging group. “That’s what I’m aiming for. I want us to be aggressive, to play attacking football, to score goals, to create special moments. “Beyond that, how far that takes us in the tournament, that’s something you can’t really control. Our goal is to become a team that can excite our supporters, home and away.”
That starts away to a side that will be looking to enhance their reputation further under veteran coach Manuel Pellegrini.
The Hoops gaffer said: “What I do know is that they finished sixth in La Liga, which is a fantastic competition.
“You just have to look at the teams they finished close to, to know they have a quality team and they have a quality manager who has been around for a long time and had a lot of success.
“They have some outstanding players in their team.
“I doubt they look at it that somehow what pot they are in determines what kind of team they are going to be.
“It’s a really good group. There are challenges in each team and for us away from home, this game will be an enormous challenge. But it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
Postecoglou had Betis watched on Monday night as they grabbed a late winner against Granada.
He is well aware that 2-1 win would have given the Hoops’ opponents a shot in the arm.
He added: “Playing at home, they will be looking to get on the front foot. They have got threats up front and out wide.
“There haven’t been a lot of changes from last year, which is probably something that gives them a strong foundation in terms of the style of football they want to play.
“They try to keep the ball, they try to get it to their front players who can cause some damage.
“We’re going to have to defend at times, for sure. What’s most important is we impose our will on the game and try to deny them areas they’re strong in.”
I’m room sitting in a of with Martin images fantastic and It’s the not lost support. on ANGE POSTECOGLOU me SIGNIFICANCE OF ON THE SEVILLE