Ange Postecoglou didn’t set out any particular targets when he walked within the entrance door at Celtic. The Aussie isn’t altering that strategy now he’s returned for yr two as a champion.
However Postecoglou is aware of one factor - that Celtic by no means stops. And, one way or the other, he has to try to make this time period even higher than he managed to make the unforgettable final. Postecoglou's first 12 months in cost was like a fairytale as he inherited chaos and turned it into triumph towards all the percentages.
Postecoglou savoured the expertise of successful a Premiership and a Premier Sports activities and received the deserved plaudits however, though he walked again within the constructing for this pre-season with these two trophies on the sideboard and Champions League group phases to relish, he’s conscious it’s now a clear slate.
On the similar time, Postecoglou is aware of, if issues do come off for him once more, Celtic will probably be in a great place once more as he defined: “We didn’t set out with any particular targets final yr. We simply wished to be the most effective we may presumably be.
“It is going to be the identical this yr. If we are able to enhance on our performances from final yr, which we've to, if we are able to enhance on all the things we do, then we’re going to complete in a reasonably great spot.
“We don’t know what meaning when it comes to tangible outcomes. However yearly I’ve began a soccer season I need the staff to be the most effective it might presumably be.
“Once more, that’s our intention this yr.”
Work started for some members of the squad this time period at Lennoxtown yesterday as those that didn't have summer time worldwide duties received all the way down to graft.
Postecoglou is thrilled to have time at his disposal this summer time that he didn’t have final. For instance, no ugly Champions League qualifiers earlier than the title defence begins.
Postecoglou’s staff head for Austria on Monday for 2 video games, face Czechs Banik Ostrava and go away to Warsaw to fulfill Legia.
Blackburn Rovers and Norwich Metropolis will grace Parkhead both aspect of the Poland journey and the supervisor believes the schedule which has been put in place provides his staff a terrific probability to choose up the place they left off.
By the turmoil of final summer time, Celtic suffered hostile ends in the early weeks earlier than summer time signings had been accomplished and the marketing campaign settled down.
This time Postecoglou needs the squad prepared from the get-go and mentioned: “They [six games] shall be tremendous vital as a result of, as soon as we get to the primary spherical of the Premiership, we all know from them on up till the break in November, we're going to be going at it and we wish to be prepared. We've got to be prepared.
“We all know we received off to a sluggish begin final yr and we definitely don’t wish to be doing that once more with so many vital video games early within the season.
“So I feel it's a good programme we've put along with the combination of us going away which is nice and enjoying towards several types of opposition.
“We've got a few video games at Celtic Park and a few form of European journeys within the center, which, hopefully, prepares us for the Champions League and the travels we've received there.
“So we've tried to place a programme collectively which we predict will give us the most effective probability of being prepared.”
Postecoglou is definitely prepared. Having barely had a break in a yr and a half after swapping Japan for Glasgow, the boss managed to get pleasure from well-earned down time.
The batteries are recharged for the challenges forward, however, talking to Celtic TV, he did admit he took a while to replicate on the glories of yr one.
He mentioned: “I’d a great break. If you end up in the course of it, you don’t realise that was a reasonably hectic 18 months for myself.
“For my household, clearly, coming from Japan halfway via final season and going proper via to the tip of the yr, it was nice simply to spend time with them.
“I received a bit of little bit of an opportunity to replicate on my first season. You wish to swap off a bit of bit and that features reflecting on final yr, though you might be nonetheless occupied with soccer.
“However I feel we had a terrific last day at Celtic Park and we had every week after that to form of get across the place and speak to folks.
"Not simply on the soccer membership, however, extra importantly, what it meant to our supporters.
“So I’d a great week right here in Glasgow after we performed the ultimate recreation. Once I went away I attempted to modify off, however because the weeks went on, I began occupied with this yr.
“It [trophy] was a big day I feel for everybody. We knew we had been champions by that time, however credit score to the lads and everybody concerned, they wished to make it a very big day with a great efficiency.
“That allowed everybody to get pleasure from it in their very own approach. It was simply nice to see. My household was out on the pitch as had been all of the boys’ households.
“So it was nice to see them share the second. It was simply sensible to see our supporters get pleasure from it greater than the rest.
“It was good to modify off and replicate a bit of bit on final yr. However I’m able to get going once more.”
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