Even the Magic Man is stunned by Ange sorcery
ROGIC HAILS IMPACT OF COMPATRIOT AT CELTIC
WHEN Ange Postecoglou was named as Celtic’s surprise new boss last June, Tom Rogic’s phone soon began to light up.
The only member of the dressing room at Lennoxtown with prior working knowledge of the then little-known Australian, his views on his compatriot were swiftly sought by team-mates.
Yet the prospect of working with his former Socceroos head coach amid the day-to-day rigours of club football actually represented as big step into the unknown for Rogic as for the rest of the squad.
It didn’t take long, though, before the player dubbed the Magic Man by Brendan Rodgers was enjoying the alchemy which would accompany his renewed partnership with Postecoglou.
Rogic had lost much of his sorcery when he fell to the fringes during a tough season under Neil Lennon as the club’s dream of ten in a row crumbled to dust.
But the Wizard of Oz is back enchanting Celtic fans again with his renaissance under Postecoglou, which was capped yesterday when he was named as a candidate for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year.
‘The boys were asking me about the new manager and I knew him well enough, to a degree,’ recalled Rogic. ‘I had worked with him for four or five years in the national team but, in international football, you don’t get the time to work together day-to-day and that’s a new aspect I have really enjoyed this season.
‘I’ve enjoyed experiencing the challenges and the intensity of working under him and striving to be the best you can be. He really challenges everyone at the club to do that each and every day.
‘There’s no preferential treatment. He treats everyone the same. He’s been great. There was a lot of work to do from where we were at the end of last season to where we are now.
‘There’s been an enormous transition and the manager deserves the most credit for that.
‘He has us playing a really exciting brand of football that everyone has bought into and everyone is working extremely hard.
‘I have enjoyed the season thoroughly. In spells, I’ve probably played some of my best football and, physically, it’s probably the best I’ve felt for a long time.
‘It’s just been nice to be out on the pitch every week and enjoying playing football with a smile on my face again.’
So, did he not play with a smile last season?
‘It was a challenging season for everyone,’ said Rogic. ‘When things are not going as well and you are not as successful, it’s obviously harder for everybody.
‘But it’s part of the game and there’s always a next opportunity, a next moment or a next game to create a special memory. You’re better off looking forward than back.’
Just six domestic games into Postecoglou’s managerial career and the sound of knives being sharpened could be heard after a 1-0 loss in Livingston in September.
It was the club’s worst start to a league season in 23 years. However, Rogic insists Celtic have enjoyed answering their doubters by powering to a 28-game unbeaten run in the Premiership since that defeat at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
‘At the start of the season we were written off quite early,’ he said. ‘It’s funny sometimes when people write you off early.
‘I don’t think it is extra motivation but it is nice to prove people wrong. But that wasn’t really our focus. We knew if we played to our ability and the level of effort was there, the results would come.
‘It took a bit of time to get everyone together but, once we did, we gelled pretty good.
‘To perform the way we have and to play the football we have is pleasing — and results have come off the back of the hard work.
‘A season is always difficult, it’s always quite gruelling. You always have to earn it.’
Rogic paid no heed to those who thought his time as a Celtic player was coming to an end when he was linked with a £4million move to a mystery club in Qatar in September 2020. Nor did he accept his best days may be behind him. Instead, he believes at 29 his finest form may yet be to come.
‘I can’t control what people are thinking on the outside,’ he shrugged. ‘I’m a pretty relaxed guy and that stuff wasn’t on my mind at all, to be honest.
‘Football works in funny ways and sometimes people get too high when things are going well and a little carried away when it’s not going so good.
‘Is my best yet to come? Potentially. Football these days, you see players peaking later and playing longer, so who knows?
‘Right now I am just enjoying myself and I’m feeling good and I’m happy.’
Last season, Rangers won the title at a canter with the winning margin a massive 25 points.
On Sunday, Celtic would all but reclaim the trophy with an Old Firm win at Parkhead against the Europa League semi finalists.
That would leave Postecoglou’s men nine points ahead of the Ibrox side and boasting a vastly superior goal difference with just three games left.
A veteran of five Premiership title wins during his time at Celtic, would this one be the sweetest given the scale of the rebuild required under Postecoglou and against the backdrop of the deep disappointments of last season?
‘Potentially,’ replied Rogic. ‘Any trophy you win is extremely satisfying and rewarding and you have to work very hard for it.
‘I’m fortunate enough that I’ve been a part of really successful teams here and won a lot of trophies.
‘But what I’ve learned in that time is nothing gets handed to you. We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next four games. We certainly don’t take anything for granted.
‘It’s been a long and difficult season but it’s also been really enjoyable
‘We’ve enjoyed some success (winning the League Cup) but we still have four games left — and want to finish as strongly as possible.’
l Tom Rogic was yesterday named on a four-man shortlist for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year alongside Celtic captain Callum McGregor, Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Ross County attacker Regan CharlesCook. Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsay and Connor Barron have been nominated in the PFA’s young player category with Celtic’s Liel Abada and Josh Doig of Hibs.