REAL INTENT

Postecoglou vows to go on the attack against Madrid after routing Rangers

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has vowed to take the game to Real Madrid after a stunning attacking performance earned Celtic a convincing win over Rangers.

Goals from Liel Abada (2), Jota and substitute David Turnbull paved the way for the Parkhead side to open up a five-point lead over their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Premiership.

Now, Postecoglou’s focus has switched to Tuesday’s Champions League opener, a match he may have to tackle without top scorer Kyogo

Furuhashi, who was substituted early in yesterday’s match with a shoulder injury.

Regardless of that selection issue, Postecoglou has vowed that his team will take the game to Europe’s reigning champions this midweek

while maintaining their application to pressing and defending high up the pitch.

He said: ‘Overall, our defensive work put our dominance on the game. Our football took over from there.

‘We were more direct than normal, which caused them problems.

‘That will be tested on Tuesday night but what a great opportunity to play our football. If we’re not successful, fair enough. But let’s go down swinging rather than deferring to someone because they’re a good team.

‘Our supporters want us to take the game to Real Madrid and see where it takes us. Let’s have a crack anyway.

‘They’re an unbelievable team with outstanding pedigree. They’re champions of Europe but we’ll go out there and test ourselves.’

In the build-up to the game, former

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson claimed that Postecoglou was tactically inflexible compared to his counterpart Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

‘Maybe if I was German, Dutch or Spanish, people might look at me differently in terms of tactics,’ quipped Postecoglou. ‘Apparently, I’ve got one simple approach, a plan A. But we’ll just stick to that.’

With Carlo Ancelotti next up for Postecoglou, he was eager to point out the preventative work put in by his players during the derby.

‘Our defensive work was outstanding — we got the fourth goal from our press and didn’t give Rangers much time on the ball,’ said the Australian.

‘Every time they got through a line of ours, someone stepped in to make it hard for them. When they breached our box, we were strong. Joe (Hart) didn’t have too many saves to make.

‘The league table isn’t important right now. What’s important is how we play. If we continue to play like that, we’re going to be hard to stop.

‘We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. Five points doesn’t get you anything right now — that was shown last year.’

Postecoglou also reserved some praise for winger Liel Abada, who claimed Celtic’s first and third goals.

The Israeli started the season out of the team but a hat-trick in the 9-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice last weekend has ignited his season.

‘Liel has been great since we signed him,’ added Postecoglou. ‘He’s just got a real maturity in front of goal. He’s got this knack of, not just being in the right place, but being calm and putting the ball in the net.

‘That’s a hell of a commodity to have. He was outstanding but I know Liel, he’ll come in tomorrow for feedback and try to improve his game.’