SUPER SIX ARE FULLY SETTLED
Postecoglou insists there are no cliques as Japanese stars feel right at home
JUST because a player is patently capable of thriving in a league on the other side of the world isn’t to say that it will simply happen. No matter how prodigious a talent may be, an unhappy individual off the park is rarely conducive to a productive time on it.
Ange Postecoglou recognised this when he signed Kyogo Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe in his first transfer window.
He never lost sight of it when Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi strengthened the Japanese contingent at Celtic Park a year ago.
And the same applies now that Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata have become the fifth and sixth players from their country in the Australian’s squad.
If there was a degree of common sense about a former J-Leaguewinning manager recruiting from a market he knows well then Postecoglou also appreciated that the success of such a strategy was always contingent on the club feeling like a home-from-home.
And while the six compatriots have naturally gravitated towards each other socially, their manager feels the absence of any cliques in the dressing room is indicative of the all-embracing culture he felt was mandatory if his plan was to work.
‘I can understand why people would think they would all stick together but you’ve got to remember that they are all very different people at different stages of their lives,’ said Postecoglou. ‘Some of them have got kids. Others are single. They are very different personalities.
‘While they do hang around together, they also gravitate towards people who are at similar stages in their lives. The ones with kids tend to hang around with the others who have kids, that kind of thing.
‘We have tried to create an environment that is very welcoming but also supportive. We understand that whether it’s the Japanese boys or someone like Liel Abada, who has come from Israel, we need to provide support on and off the field and that’s what the club has done really, really well, so that the boys feel comfortable. I know it’s a unique situation (six Japanese players) but look at any Portuguese side this week and they’ll have half-a-dozen Brazilians. It’s just that we’ve done it in a market where it’s not usual to be done.
‘I’ve always looked at them as all different people with different characteristics and our job is to provide support. But we have a fantastic dressing room and that’s a credit to the players. It doesn’t matter where a person comes from, they fit in really well.’
Of the four Japanese players to have pulled on the jersey so far under Postecoglou, only the unfortunate Ideguchi hasn’t worked out.
That impressively high strike rate and the value for money Celtic have enjoyed has not gone unnoticed. This week alone, Hearts have signed a Japanese player in Yutaro Oda, with Motherwell keen on Riku Danzaki.
Given the Gorgie club previously had Ryotaro Meshino on loan from Manchester City, it might be stretching it to say that Postecoglou has shown the way in this regard. But it does appear that Celtic’s recent success has led to a new appreciation of the talent of Japanese players.
‘I don’t know if I’ve done that,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘There have been other Japanese players who have come to Scotland in the past, but I definitely think it’s a part of the world that, for our league, there is some real value there.
‘You can get some quality players who are very ambitious and suit our league.
‘It depends on the clubs’ approach. When you bring in players from the other side of the world it does require support off the field, but in terms of player quality and value, I think they add to our league and it’s great to see.
‘I think more clubs will do that. I don’t think necessarily on the back of what I’ve done here but, if a club of our size and resources is looking at that market, it makes sense that other clubs might do something similar.’
Furuhashi already felt like a snip at £4.5million before he gave Postecoglou his first trophy as Celtic manager with a quite brilliant brace in the League Cup final against Hibernian. Some 13 months on, Kilmarnock are tasked with loosening Celtic’s grip on the silverware this evening.
The very fact his side are contemplating a fourth trip to Mount Florida on his watch is a welcome indication of the progress made to date.
Postecoglou said: ‘I’m looking forward to it — 5.30pm under the
We have a fantastic dressing room and everyone fits in so well
lights. That just shows you how dark it gets here!’
‘It’s one of those venues that you know when you go there you are playing in a significant game. People have different views on it as a venue, but I’ve enjoyed it — although obviously not when we didn’t win (Scottish Cup semi-final). In general, the atmosphere, having both sets of supporters in there — I think it’s great to be part of.’
Given Celtic have put seven goals past Kilmarnock without reply across two league games already this season, anything other than a comfortable progression to another final would be a surprise.
Many in Postecoglou’s shoes down the years have felt the fear of losing such games is a bigger motivator than the joy of winning. Not for him.
‘I certainly get that and there are elements of that in it,’ added the Australian. ‘But it’s not really the way I am. I’ve always been more focused on the way the team plays and approaches it.
‘We look to win every game of football we play and that’s where our motivation lies, whether that’s in the league or in cup competitions. That’s the responsibility I have here.’
There are no survivors from the side which lost the 2012 final to the Rugby Park men, yet no one in Postecoglou’s squad should need reminded of the perils in assuming they are just too good to fail.
‘In cup competitions you just have to look down south last week when plenty of so-called favourites got knocked off, so that’s the nature of it and that’s why we like it,’ added Postecoglou.
‘Every club is aware of it, whether you are the favourite or underdog, you use that as motivation. Anything can happen on the day.
‘Our role in that is just to be prepared to be at our best and, if we are at our best, we know we are hard to stop.’