Postecoglou is pleased he has repaid fans’ faith
Ange Postecoglou has thanked the Celtic support for taking a “leap of faith” with his revolutionary rebuild.
The Hoops manager takes his side into the final Old Firm derby of the season today, knowing victory would all but secure the title.
And after tackling Rangers at Ibrox and Hampden in quick succession, the Australian reports his players are eager to get the job done in front of a partisan majority.
“We’re absolutely looking forward to that,” said Postecoglou.
“We had it in early February in the first derby of this calendar year, and you know it is going to be a special day. Our supporters are going to be up for it.
“It’s been three different challenges, away in the league, the semi-final of the Cup and now home in the league.
“Different kinds of environments, but there’s no doubt the players are looking forward to having the supporters behind them.”
Celtic blew Rangers away under the lights in the February derby, racing to a 3-0 lead by half-time to put the win beyond doubt.
“I think we will get a similar atmosphere this weekend. The support has been behind the team all year,” said the 56-year-old.
“They have really had a leap of faith with this team, and backed it from the start when maybe it wasn’t quite so evident that we could be successful this year.
“On that night against Rangers, for 45 minutes we showed against a very good opponent how we can play. And that was pleasing for me because it gave us encouragement to push on.
“It showed that this group was willing to embrace the challenge of playing our football in the toughest of tests.
“The fans know we are in the final stretch, and I’m sure they will want to make Sunday as much of an electric atmosphere as they can.
“They will try to help the team along, and our role is to reciprocate by putting on a performance that reflects the support we have had all year.
“Day or night, I don’t think it matters. It’s going to be a cracking atmosphere.”
Which, the Celtic boss hopes, will help his players get on the front foot against a Rangers team who showed plenty of resilience against RB Leipzig last Thursday.
“They have to beat us, so we just have to prepare ourselves to play the football we can, and make sure that we get as dominant as we can early in the game,” he said.
“We want to put them on the back foot, and capitalise on those moments where we have the advantage, something we have done all year at Celtic Park.”