ANGE POSTECOGLOU was bristling at a comment Celtic had suffered a “catastrophe” in their latest Champions League flop.
The Hoops boss clearly did not like the reference that was made by a BBC reporter following the 2-1 extra-time defeat against FC Midtjylland which sent the Parkhead club hurtling through the exit at the qualifying stage for a miserable fourth successive campaign.
The Danes joined AEK Athens, Cluj and Ferencvaros in knocking the team out before Europe’s elite competition even gets to the group stages where a financial rewards of around £40million await the sides who battle through.
When it was put to Postecoglou, who joined ex-bosses Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon in the sequence of failure, that it was a catastrophe for the club, he snapped back: “It’s pretty strong language, mate, I don’t know what your version of catastrophic is, but it certainly doesn’t fit my definition of what happened tonight.
“This is obviously a disappointing night, disappointing we didn’t get through, I can’t fault the effort of the players, I think they worked their socks off, we controlled the game.
“We scored and then had a good chance to go 2-0 up and then straight away they scored and we lost a bit of momentum.”
The reporter explained himself and made the point that missing out of more Euro riches could be viewed as a major setback.
Postecoglou, as reported in the Daily Record, added: “No, catastrophic to me means the end. This is far from the end.
“You are suggesting this is a club falling apart and our season is finished, I don’t see it that way.
“Yes, it’s absolutely disappointing, Champions League football is a priority, but I can’t ask any more of the players.
“Blame? We don’t blame people, I take responsibility, the responsibility is mine.
“You are using really strong language for something I don’t think merits that sort of view.”
Postecoglou now has to get his players prepared for the Premiership kick-off against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday with an 8pm start and then get ready for a fight just to reach the Europa League when they take on Czech side FK Jablonec.
TAME HOOPS TOPPLE INTO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OBLIVION – AGAIN
