KEEPING THE FAITH
Celtic boss backs Giakoumakis after penalty howler ... and expects him to step up again when the next one arises
ANGE POSTECOGLOU has felt no need to place a protective arm around the shoulder of Giorgos Giakoumakis in the wake of his costly penalty miss last Saturday afternoon.
Words of consolation haven’t been required either. Life at a big club can be tough at times, but that’s how it goes. Dusting yourself off and going again is the only option.
Postecoglou has faith in the Greek striker’s ability to bounce back from the weak stoppage-time spot-kick against Livingston that cost Celtic two vital points in the Premiership title race.
He sees a player who lives for goals. And he would have no fears about Giakoumakis putting himself forward again if a chance for redemption from 12 yards arises.
After an introduction halted by fitness issues following a £2.5million move from VVV-Venlo, the 26-year-old has one goal from his first six Celtic appearances, most of which have been as a substitute.
Netting the winner against Livingston could have been a launchpad moment at the end of his first full 90 minutes for the club. Instead, it became a bitter disappointment.
Asked about the player’s state of mind ahead of tonight’s Europa League match against Ferencvaros in Budapest, Postecoglou said: ‘He’s a striker. Last year he was top scorer in the Dutch First Division and scored nine out of ten penalties.
‘I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t want to grab the ball to score a last-minute winner at Celtic Park.
‘I’m not here to protect players and hide them. If you come here to Celtic as a No 9 and a central striker, you want the opportunity to win games of football. That’s how you make a career for yourself.
‘So I don’t have to put my arm around Giakoumakis or tell him anything or try and protect him. This is a big club with expectations and that’s why he’s here.
‘The best in the world miss them and the best in the world get up there and take them again. It’s part of football and he understands that.
‘He wanted to come to this big club because he knows the next time he gets that opportunity to score a winner in front of 60,000, it will be a memorable moment for him and I’ll be happy if he steps up again. That’s where he is at.’
Giakoumakis’ only Europa League involvements so far have been two short contributions from the bench. It remains to be seen whether that will change inside the Groupama Arena tonight, given that top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi was largely rested at the weekend.
Regardless of who spearheads his side, Postecoglou is clear about Celtic’s intent. They have travelled to Hungary focused on gaining three points that would maintain hope of reaching the knockout stage.
Victory would also soothe the weekend disappointment and mark another forward step. So far under Postecoglou, the Parkhead outfit have lost three of their four away European ties.
‘It is an opportunity for us to keep developing as a team,’ said the Celtic manager.
‘Every game we have had away from home has been a unique challenge. We have been competitive in all of them, the performances.
‘We did lose in Midtjylland, but it was 1-1 after 90 minutes. We lost in AZ Alkmaar, but we actually won the tie on aggregate. We lost in Betis, but gave a top team a hell of a game and lost 4-3.
‘So every game is an opportunity for us to develop and grow.
‘We’re facing a good team in Ferencvaros and it’s a real big challenge in a game we need to win to keep our chances alive of progressing.’
Last month’s 2-0 home success over the Hungarians was richly deserved. Repeating the outcome would effectively seal third place in Group G and the Conference League play-off that comes with it.
That would provide a fall-back option if reeling in Bayer Leverkusen and Real Betis proves impossible. Whatever path is taken, Postecoglou is eager to see Celtic in Europe beyond Christmas.
‘You want to get past just because it is another opportunity to test yourself,’ he argued.
‘Every time we play in Europe, that opportunity is there for these players, particularly as we’re trying to build a team and play a certain way.
‘The more opportunity you get to do that against top opposition, and that’s what we’ll face, you want to take it. You don’t want to dismiss it.
‘I’m disappointed we didn’t make the Champions League. I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get through the Europa League. I’ll be disappointed if we haven’t got European football in the New Year because those are the kind of opportunities you want to develop and grow.
‘For us, that’s the main goal and aim. When these doors open you want to put your best foot forward and see where it takes you. From my perspective, this game is a great opportunity for growth with this team.’
It will have to be achieved without an official allocation of Celtic fans. While some have travelled to Budapest, no away tickets have been made available due to complications with vaccine certificates.
‘We’re disappointed,’ added Postecoglou. ‘We’re edging towards things being normal, but it will take time.
‘It would have been nice to have some supporters in there, but, again, for us as a team, we have to go in without any and it’s an opportunity for us to test ourselves in those kinds of conditions.
‘They won’t be in the stadium, but there will be plenty out and about and plenty watching at home cheering us on.’