ANGE POSTECOGLOU revealed he will not be at Celtic “forever”.
On the day he will eventually leave the club, the Hoops boss admitted: “That decision, mate, might be taken out of my hands.”
Postecoglou opened up after watching his team overcome stubborn St Mirren 5-1 to book their place in tomorrow’s 5.30pm Scottish Cup quarter-final draw at Hampden.
New Bhoy Oh Hyeon-gyu claimed his first goal for the club – and the champions’ 100th of the season – while Reo Hatate hit two, one from the penalty spot, and Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley, with his first strike of the campaign, chipped in with the others.
FANFARE…Ange Postecoglou watches Celtic beat St Mirren 5-1 with the Celtic support for company.
The 57-year-old Greek-Australian gaffer insisted there was nothing distracting his focus on steering Celtic to more success with the Viaplay League Cup Final against Michael Beale’s Ibrox side due at the national stadium a fortnight today.
However, links with Leeds United, who sacked American Jesse Marsch six days ago, still persist with the Elland Road outfit snubbed by West Brom’s Carlos Corberan and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot while they were blocked in an intended approach for Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola.
Postecoglou, though, is not listening to the noise from across the border and the team’s next challenge will be against Aberdeen in the east end of Glasgow on Saturday as the push for a second successive Premiership title cotinues with the team nine points clear at the top.
Asked if he saw his long-term future at Celtic, the manager said: “I don’t know what that means.
“Every decision I make for this football club is for the best of this football club – it’s not about me, it’s not about me trying to achieve something.
“Every job I’ve done, I’ve done as if I’m going to be there forever.
A BIG HAND…Ange Postecoglou applauds new Bhoy Oh Hyeon-gyu’s first Celtic goal.
“Every decision I ever make I’m making as if I’m going to be here forever – but I won’t be.
“That decision, mate, might be taken out of my hands.
“We lose today, we lose next week, it’s a whole different discussion.
“My role in this is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, really focused on trying to create a football team that our supporters are going to be proud of – and, hopefully, give them some memories that are going to last forever.
“If I do that, then that’s all I need in terms of any credit in my bank.”
Quizzed on a message to the fans, Postecoglou, speaking to the Scottish Sun on Sunday, added: “I don’t think I need to say anything to them.
“I think what the supporters want is to make sure I’m focused on preparing the team every week to win games of football and to play football that’s going to excite them and make them proud.
“If anyone thinks for the last seven days I’ve thought about anything but preparing the team to play today then obviously they haven’t got a clear idea of what I’m about.”
A BUNCH OF FIVES AS OH IS CENTURY BHOY
