ANGE POSTECOGLOU spoke to the Australian media after Celtic’s 2-1 loss in Sydney and told them: “I’m not a violin player.”
The manager was not searching for excuses for an incredibly slipshod performance from his team as they flopped to the local team in the opening match of the Sydney Super Cup.
The champions were unrecognisable from the side that have won 14 of their 15 Premiership games this season to achieve a nine-point advantage at the league summit.
This was a shadow team that were well off the pace against determined hosts who deserved their victory after coming back from a Kyogo Furuhashi opening goal.
HIGH FIVES…Kyogo Furuhashi and captain James Forrest celebrate Celtic’s only goal.
The local press and fans were intrigued as to what to expect from Postecoglou who had not coached on Australian soil since quitting as international boss in 2017.
The Aussie media reported the hosts had “crashed” their former international chief’s homecoming and they managed the feat with back-up goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle and inexperienced defenders Aaron Gurd and Adrian Vlastelica.
As he faced the reporters in the aftermatch conference, Postecoglou refused to blame the long flight over or jet leg for the loss.
The 57-year-old Greek-Australian told the local media: “I’m not a violin player, mate. We get on with it.
“[The players] probably are tired, but so what? The game was today, not tomorrow.
“We were nowhere near it today.
“We set expectations and levels, and if we fall below that then it’s disappointing, irrespective of the circumstances or what the environment or the competition is.”
Celtic play Everton in the second and final game of the competition in the early hours of Sunday morning.
