Celtic boss delighted by side’s final surge as Rangers left behind

CELTIC boss Ange Postecoglou hailed his side for the manner of their final surge towards the finishing line in the title race after a 4-1 win over Hearts effectively put them out of Rangers’ sight.

Postecoglou’s side now have a nine-point lead and a 22-goal advantage over their city rivals with Rangers having three games left. Postecoglou said: ‘I said to the boys before the game that there are many ways you can finish something off.

‘You can collapse through the finishing tape or you can go through it at top speed, and that’s what we want to do. It’s what we’ve been doing all year.

‘We’ll go hard on Wednesday and get back here and go hard again in the last game.”

Nobody within the Celtic camp was declaring title victory but there was a celebratory feel to the post-match lap of honour.

‘There is nothing wrong with enjoying the journey,’ Postecoglou said. ‘It’s not always just about the destination.

‘I thought it was a top performance from the boys and for us that’s the greatest reward you can get, to see the joy that it brings other people.

‘Whether that’s your own family and the people who love you, or the supporters who love this football club.’

The engraver can get to work on the cinch Premiership trophy on Sunday if Rangers drop points at home to Dundee United and Celtic could officially secure the title themselves at Tannadice on Wednesday.

‘I’ll win it any old way mate, it doesn’t really bother me,’ Postecoglou said. ‘For us, what’s important is that I think we’ve earned it this year, and that we continue to earn it.

‘We’re not collapsing over the line, we’re strong, we’re committed to something. Our performances and the challenges we’re overcoming are reflecting that.’