Ange tells his players: step up to the plate
ANGE POSTECOGLOU has demanded that his misfiring Celtic players start to take responsibility for their own actions. A chastening four-goal home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday left the Parkhead men without a point from their opening two Europa League matches — and having won just two of their past eight encounters in all competitions. A promising start against the Germans was undermined by David Turnbull’s untimely slip leading to Piero Hincapie’s opener, with the Bundesliga side then easing to victory by capitalising on further errors. Postecoglou takes his side to Aberdeen tomorrow knowing a defeat would see them slide into the bottom half of the Premiership table. Asked what kind of reaction he needed, the Australian said: ‘A reaction in terms of people taking personal responsibility out there for our performances. Wanting to be the person who takes responsibility. ‘Our football has been good. We are creating chances, but we are not scoring. You can’t keep creating nine or ten chances a game and come away with one goal or no goals at all. ‘Somebody out there has to take it upon themselves to say: “I’ll break that.” ‘We are conceding goals through individual errors that, again, are easily avoidable if people are disciplined and understand the consequences of their actions rather than just going through games and accepting mistakes. You can actually be stronger mentally to avoid that happening.’ Asked if his players needed to now stand up and be counted, Postecoglou added: ‘In many respects, yeah. They need to take responsibility. That game shouldn’t have finished 4-0. It was self-inflicted.’ With just ten points taken in the league from a possible 21 and eight goals conceded across two Europa League defeats, the level of scrutiny on Postecoglou is intensifying. Skipper Callum McGregor understands the frustration of the fans but feels the team will come good in the long run. ‘We just need to be patient,’ he said. ‘It is going to be a process. I don’t think anyone is shying away from that. The manager certainly is not and the players as well. ‘What we have is a really young group of players who are learning on the job. ‘The squad is a bit thin at the moment as well and we need to try and get some bodies in to help as physically it is really challenging. But what I will say is there’s the makings of a good team there. We are creating five and six really good opportunities in every game. It’s a case of taking them.’ Goalkeeper Joe Hart insists the Celtic players owe it to their manager to deliver at Pittodrie. The former England man said: ‘He stands up for us because he believes in what he is trying to do and we believe in what he is trying to do.’