Postecoglou not taking lessons from Rangers run
Manager says Lisbon Lions made mark way before rivals
ANGE POSTECOGLOU says that Scottish clubs making their mark in Europe is nothing new, as he sent a reminder to Rangers that Celtic are the only club from this country to have won the European Cup ahead of tomorrow’s clash between the rivals at Celtic Park.
Postecoglou congratulated Rangers manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst for guiding his team to the Europa League semi-finals, where a battling display in a 1-0 defeat against RB Leipzig in Germany on Thursday night gives them a fighting chance of making it all the way to the final in Seville.
But the Celtic manager couldn’t resist the opportunity to remind everyone about the achievements of his own club in the past, winning the biggest prize the continent has to offer back in 1967.
“Scottish clubs, including this one, have made their mark in Europe before, I don’t think we have learned anything new this year,” Postecoglou said. “Rangers have done very well and Giovanni has done a great job in getting them to the semi-finals. I guess from their perspective they are still in the tie and have an opportunity to get to a final, which is great.
“But if you want evidence of how well Scottish clubs can do in Europe, there’s a trophy I can show you just down the road here, mate.”
Postecoglou says that the achievements of Rangers will have little bearing on tomorrow’s encounter, even with the second leg against RB Leipzig at Ibrox looming on Thursday night.
“I don’t think Giovanni spends too much time thinking about what others are doing and I don’t spend too much time on thinking about what other clubs are doing, either,” he said. “What’s important is that, whatever any competition brings in terms of its strength, it’s our job to try and be better.
“If the opposition is stronger, it is up to us to be stronger in order to try and be champions. It’s the same for everyone.”