The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sutton blown away by Postecoglou’ s impact
Chris Sutton concedes he thought it was mission impossible for Ange Postecoglou to deliver the Premiership title when he joined Celtic last summer.
The Australian arrived at a club in disarray after finishing 25 points behind Rangers the previous season but has transformed Celtic’s fortunes following a huge squad overhaul.
The Hoops took the chequered flag with a 1-1 draw at Dundee United on Wednesday and former striker Sutton admits he has been blown away by the impact the manager has had.
Sutton said: “The fact Ange in truth was Australian and had managed in Australia, with the national team as well, and then in the J league, there were a lot of sceptics out there.
“Celtic is a massive, massive football club and all the talk in the weeks and months before was that Eddie Howe was getting the job.
“Then you look back to what a debacle last season was for Celtic, going for the 10 in a row, just falling apart.
“In truth, honestly, I did not give Ange Postecoglou a chance of winning the league this season, the magnitude of the job was so great, the squad overhaul.
“I thought it was impossible.
“When he was brought in they were so far behind in terms of recruitment and the pre-season was a total mess.
“He came into an absolute mess. He has turned things around so quickly in such a short period of time.
“I think he has proved a fair few people wrong.
“The unfortunate thing for him now is that the expectations are through the roof and Celtic fans will be expecting more next season, that’s the nature of it.”
Celtic fans will now be hoping that the side can go from strength to strength under Postecoglou but former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers marksman Sutton reckons top-flight clubs south of the border will be sitting up and taking notice of the job he has done.
Sutton insists you only have to compare former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, who is now at Aston Villa, and Postecoglou’s records to dismiss the notion that the Celtic boss cannot manage in the Premier League.
Postecoglou also delivered the League Cup in his maiden season in Scotland.
Sutton added: “Yeah, absolutely (I can see him managing in the Premier League).
“I don’t get the argument that he can’t manage in the Premier League.
“His track record speaks for itself and I think people would have sat up and noticed the job he has done at Celtic.
“Steven Gerrard, one trophy out of nine in three seasons, and people say it was an incredible turnaround, well it is nowhere to what Ange has done at Celtic in one season.
“Ange has more trophies in one season than Steven Gerrard has won in three and Steven Gerrard gets a big job at Aston Villa.
“I’m sure clubs will look at him, brand of football ticks a huge, huge box as well and fans want to see an attacking brand of football.
“He ticks so many boxes, he has the experience, he has the track record, just because he is Australian does that mean he is not going to get a job in the Premier League? I don’t get it.
“I don’t get any negative argument, it’s actually insulting. He has managed the national team at a World Cup, what more does he have to do?”
Meanwhile, Hoops winger James Forrest has signed a contract extension which ties him to the new champions until 2025.
The 30-year-old will collect his 10th league winners’ medal tomorrow and his 20th in all competitions.
The Scotland international had a year left on his present deal and his new contract could see him overtake the only three Celtic players to have won more trophies – Scott Brown (22), Billy Mcneill (23) and Bobby Lennox (25).