ANGE POSTECOGLOU told his players they had earned the right to celebrate after the 3-2 derby triumph that propelled the champions 12 points clear at the Premiership pinnacle.
Celtic are now a mere three wins from their remaining seven league games from clinching their second successive title – and the club’s eleventh in 12 years.
A double snapped up by Kyogo Furuhashi – now on 28 goals this term – and an opportunist effort from Filipe Jota took care of business at a pulsating Parkhead yesterday.
PARADISE…Ange Postecoglou applauds the Celtic support as the Hoops race towards a second successive title.
It’s back to business at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock a week today, but the beaming Hoops gaffer deserved to party after a well-fought victory that he believed had made “potentially millions of lives better” as his team cleared another hurdle on their way to the crown.
Postecoglou, obviously proud of his team’s achievements, said immediately after the encounter: “The players will enjoy themselves tonight and they deserve to.
“They had to overcome a pretty formidable opponent and they continue this great run they’re on.
“Every bit of it has been hard-earned and they know that. They know it’s not over and they know there are games still to go. We want to keep pushing on and keep trying to be the best team we possibly can.
“They will enjoy tonight and they know there’s no greater reward than what they’ve done today.
“If you can make one person’s life a little bit better, you’re going pretty well.
PRIZE GUYS…marksmen Kyogo Furuhashi and Filipe Jota celebrate after the 3-2 triumph.
“They’ve made hundreds of thousands, potentially millions, of lives better today for the next few days, so I think they should enjoy that.”
The Parkhead chief watched his side take their seventh point from a possible nine of their city rivals and, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “It was obviously a game of great significance for a number of reasons.
“Credit to the players, they found a way to get the result we needed. The game had a bit of everything.
“We had our moments and they were threatening from set-pieces, and causing us some problems, but with this group of players they’ll always find a way.”
SPECIAL K AT THE DOUBLE, JOTA JOY AS CHAMPS RACE 12 POINTS CLEAR