ANGE POSTECOGLOU has warned his Celtic players: Forget the Scottish Cup Final!
The champions have two Premiership fixtures remaining against Hibs at Easter Road on Wednesday and Aberdeen on Flag Day at Parkhead on Saturday before they can turn their attention to the Hampden showpiece a week later.
Postecoglou’s side are due to face Championship side Inverness Caley Thistle in the crescendo to another marvellous crusade where the team can claim the eighth treble in the club’s history.
WATCHING BRIEF…Ange Postecoglou sees Celtic toil in the 2-2 draw with St Mirren.
It’s bound to be an enthralling scenario at the national stadium and could bring the 57-year-old Greek-Australian gaffer his fifth piece of domestic silverware from the six up for grabs since he arrived on these shores in June 2021.
Postecoglou has not been satisfied with his team following a disappointing 3-0 loss at Ibrox and a frustrating 2-2 draw with St Mirren on Saturday.
There has been a noticeable drop in intensity from the Hoops since the second successive title was claimed in the 2-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle earlier this month.
Delivering a timely reminder to his players, Postecoglou said: “If they’re thinking about the Cup Final now, that’s a problem. Because when you start thinking too far ahead, you miss what’s happening now.
“We can’t have players thinking about performing on that day. Perform today, perform next week and then focus on the Final.
“That’s vital or what happened on Saturday will happen again. It’ll be a struggle again.”
FLASHBACK…Ange Postecoglou and his triumphant Celtic players take a bow after the 6-0 win over Motherwell on May 14 last year that sealed his first title.
Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I understand that they’re human beings and we’ve won the title again, which is what the ambition was. But there are still games to be played.
“The football we’ve played this year. It’s been pretty compelling, at a very high level for a very long time.
“But you can’t expect to go off a certain part of it and expect it to roll on just because we’ve reached this point.
“It’s human nature and I understand it, but my job is to remind the lads that, if you keep doing that, the struggle continues.
“They know how to change it, by committing to all sides of our game.
“If we do that, we’ll play the football we want to.”
