CITY BHOYS
Kennedy believes Celtic can learn from Pep’s crack squad as both clubs go for Trebles
JOHN KENNEDY insists Celtic should take inspiration from Manchester City’s stunning performance against Real Madrid as the Scottish champions continue their relentless quest for improvement.
Pep Guardiola’s side swept aside the reigning European champions 4-0 at the Etihad on Wednesday night to storm into the Champions League final, but the scoreline flattered Carlo Ancelotti’s La Liga giants.
Despite City operating in a different financial stratosphere, Kennedy agreed the almost impossibly high performance rates of the City stars should serve as motivation for their fellow Treble-chasers north of the border as they work under a boss in Ange Postecoglou who, like Guardiola, is committed to constantly improving his players.
‘Manchester City have the resources there to bring in a higher level of players but we have to try and maximise what we can do — and you can’t put a ceiling on that,’ said the Celtic assistant.
‘Manchester City were sensational. They are a terrific team. From a coaching perspective, they are very inspiring.
‘I think everyone looking at them can see the level of performances they are putting in.
‘Pep Guardiola has had to spend time with that Manchester City squad to get them to the point where they look a very special team.
‘Certainly, Ange will do his own version of that here.
‘The manager is very good at getting everything out of the players and making them go 100 per cent every day and going into games with full focus to be the best version of themselves.
‘That’s something he’s really good at driving home. He won’t let up on them. He won’t let them be comfortable. He will squeeze every last drop out of them if he can.
‘We have continually improved this season in terms of our league form and our consistency.’
Celtic finished winless and bottom of Champions League Group F this season behind Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.
They could draw Manchester City in the Champions League group stages next season but Kennedy insists that is a prospect to be savoured — and that confidence can be taken from some of Celtic’s performances in European football’s top competition.
‘We have earned the right to play in the Champions League and, when that happens, you want to test yourself against the best,’ he said.
‘We have made inroads in Europe. We have played at a very high level. We didn’t get the results but there were signs in our performances where we showed we can go for periods in games toe-to-toe with the big guys. We have to take belief from that but we have to work very hard to maximise what we can be.’
Kennedy was on the fringes of a special European journey of his own in his formative days as a player at Celtic Park when the Parkhead club reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final in Seville.
Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the 3-2 loss to Jose Mourinho’s Porto and, despite the defeat, the 39-year-old former defender looks back on the experience fondly.
‘Seville was special,’ added Kennedy. ‘I remember you could feel the momentum building round by round and, around the club, you felt like you were on the cusp of something special.
‘Beating teams along the way like Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool made it a special year.
‘As a young player, it was great to be part of it and see how these players operated at such a high level.
‘We didn’t win the final but it was still a special moment in the club’s history.
‘Porto were a very special team and they proved it the following year by winning the Champions League.
‘Take away the result, and the occasion in Seville is something that still gives me goosebumps when I think about it. Anyone who experienced that and was part of that era will look back on it with fond memories.’
For Kennedy, Seville was the start of a priceless Parkhead education that has seen him learn by playing under Martin O’Neill and working alongside subsequent managers including Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon and Postecoglou. He said: ‘I’ve been very fortunate. When you sit down with them all, what you realise is that they are all very good people. And that’s what it’s all about. ‘They all have different styles, but they all have an empathy, and a way of speaking to people to get them on board. ‘When you have 25 to 30 players coming from different parts of the world, being able to captivate them and give them one common purpose is special. ‘All of these managers have been able to do that — and that’s the biggest thing I’ve taken from them all.’ Kennedy admits he has taken satisfaction from his role in Celtic’s success in the last two seasons. That followed the bitter fallout to Lennon’s second time in charge as Rangers prevented an unprecedented 10 in a row.
‘It’s about bouncing back,’ he said. ‘As a club you want to win but you can’t win everything every season. We hit a big bump in the road at the time and it was a hard one to take. But it was really satisfying being able to regroup under a new manager with a lot of new players coming in.’
In the past, Kennedy has been linked with Aberdeen and Hibs. Does the Parkhead No 2 still harbour ambitions of one day being a manager in his own right?
‘I’ve always felt I’ve been challenged here,’ he said ahead of today’s home Premiership match with St Mirren.
‘If there comes a point where I feel I’m not progressing or I’m not getting challenged — or I feel I’m not getting enough responsibility — I would look at other options. Or if the gaffer decides he wants to make a change!
‘But I’m really enjoying what I’m doing. I have a great relationship with Ange. We get on really well. Our biggest focus is trying to win games and win trophies.’