Matt McKay’s coronary heart will at all times be within the blue half of Glasgow.
However even from the opposite facet of the world, he can’t assist being envious at what Ange Postecoglou is doing at Celtic.
And if the Aussie coach will get his palms on the Premiership title this season, McKay reckons golf equipment from England and Europe will attempt to snatch him away from Parkhead. The previous Rangers midfielder knew his outdated boss would do effectively at Celtic.
Simply not this effectively. And never on this ridiculously quick period of time.
However Postecoglou’s rejuvenation of the Hoops is paying homage to what he did with Brisbane Roar and Australia when McKay was his participant.
That’s why the success he’s had thus far doesn’t shock him.
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After spending a 12 months at Ibrox in 2011, McKay’s allegiances are very a lot with Rangers.
However he fears Postecoglou is working his magic once more.
And he’s satisfied that if Celtic are within the Champions League subsequent season, they might be powerless in making an attempt to carry on to their gaffer.
McKay stated: “As a Rangers man, I used to be gutted when Celtic acquired him. I wished him to do effectively however not this effectively. He’s been unbelievable for them.
“The Celtic gamers might go on to greater and higher issues due to Ange.
“I’m jealous Celtic have him as a result of he’s serving to their gamers and so they’ve grow to be a greater facet. I believed he’d want extra time. He’s figured it out fairly rapidly and so have the gamers. They'd that tough patch at first however it got here collectively quickly.
“They’ve already acquired one piece of silverware and I’m not shocked in any respect.
“In the event that they go on to win the league this season, it will be so spectacular.
“It might be large for Ange personally.
“Will probably be up there with profitable trophies in Australia or the Asia Cup with the nationwide group.
“In every single place Ange has gone, he’s gained.
“So he’ll hold aiming excessive. If he wins the title, he’ll take a look at the trophy then transfer on to the following one, wherever that may be.
“It might imply an important deal to him to win it in his first season in Europe at an enormous membership.
“And if he does I feel Celtic will wrestle to maintain him. I can see Premier League golf equipment taking a look at him.
“The carrot this season is Champions League soccer. Ange will need that so badly.
“Profitable the Premiership could be nice. However taking part in within the Champions League? That shall be his dream.”
Even folks Down Beneath knew how large a job Postecoglou had on his palms at Parkhead when he arrived final summer time.
However McKay has seen him work wonders earlier than by profitable the A-League for Brisbane in 2011 then the Asian Cup with Australia 4 years later.
As a coach, he says Postecoglou’s tactical nous is up there with the perfect.
However he’s adamant it’s character and character that makes him stand out.
McKay stated: “He did the same job at Brisbane. He sat us all down and requested what we’d gained. I stated nothing.
“Ange stated he’d change that. He had an concept and wished to maneuver folks alongside of their careers. And he did it.
“He achieved it the next season with a group of nobodies. He introduced in gamers who actually wished success and he modified their careers.
“He arrived with an concept and executed it. It seems like he’s doing the identical at Celtic.
“Gamers actually need to play for him. Even senior gamers, who possibly don’t need change, they commit and it inevitably helps them.
“With the nationwide group, he simply instilled perception.
“He by no means wavered from how he wished us to play, irrespective of who we have been up in opposition to. He’s lived by that the entire time.
“As a result of he was an Australian, he understood what it meant.
“He sat us down at first and made everybody inform their story of what it means to be a Socceroo.
“That was fairly emotional. Everybody’s story was completely different, with some extra emotional than others.
“He’s such a very good man-manager and tactically he’s good. He figures out methods of how one can break the opposition down.
“For Ange, it’s not about what the opposite group does.
“Some managers spend quite a lot of time on the opposition.
“However he spends 90 per cent of the time on what you must do to win the sport.”
McKay can sense from watching Postecoglou on TV that he’s immersed himself in Celtic. And he doesn’t count on his outdated boss to be the gamers’ pal or out having fun with Glasgow’s points of interest.
He stated: “I’ve watched his interviews and he has actually purchased into the membership. He has discovered the historical past of Celtic.
“He gained’t have sat again, he’ll have spoken to the proper folks there.
“Amongst the gamers he’ll be fashionable due to the work he does and so they’ll respect him. He’ll have a joke with them at instances – however he’s simply so centered.
“You gained’t see him out socialising in Glasgow a lot. Any time away from soccer shall be spent together with his household.
“He’s a very good man and Celtic go well with him completely.”