WHY SILENCE IS GOLDEN FOR ANGE

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ANGE POSTECOGLOU realised something special had happened the night before when he went for breakfast on Monday.

The Celtic boss had guided his team to the first domestic trophy of the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Michael Beale’s Ibrox side in the Viaplay League Cup Final at a frenzied Hampden the previous day.

The national stadium had been a cauldron of colour and clamour as Kyogo Furuhashi rifled two close-range efforts beyond the motionless Allan McGregor to repeat his feat of the 2021/22 showpiece showdown against Hibs in a replica scoreline.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM…Ange Postecoglou inspects the Hampden pitch prior to kick-off.

Postecoglou enjoyed the moment as the players and fans deservedly celebrated the occasion, but the 57-year-old Greek-Australian gaffer revealed he was back home with his family by half-past-eight that evening.

The Hoops gaffer said: “There was a fantastic atmosphere that continued long into the night.

“When I went out for breakfast with my beautiful wife the next morning, Glasgow seemed a bit quieter – so I reckon it was a big night on Sunday night for some of us.

“I didn’t give them [the players]the whole 24 hours, they took a few hours. I was home by 8.30 with my family, that’s my way of celebrating.

“I enjoyed the day and I was really pleased and proud of the performance the lads put on in such a big game.

“It was going to be a significant day and I’m really proud of everyone that it turned into a special one.”

HAVING A FIELD DAY…Ange Postecoglou with the silverware on a green-and-white ticker-taped playing surface.

Reflecting on the action, Postecoglou, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “We started really well, we knew we had to.

“We got control of the game very quickly and even though we didn’t create a lot, I thought if we could maintain our composure and make sure that we made them work then there would be moments where we could break them open.

“I sensed in the last 10 minutes of the first-half that we were really growing into the game and it would just take a moment for us to capitalise on.”

The Parkhead boss added: “Both goals were things we do day to day here, they weren’t goals born out of the individual brilliance of a player.

“It was more of a collective structure we have that allows the fantastic players we have to show the best of themselves.

“They were good team goals on the back of being really aggressive defensively and getting the ball to the strikers we have that we knew would cause damage.”

Now Postecoglou and his players have to score to settle in Paisley on Sunday at noon when they take on St Mirren, the only team to inflict a domestic defeat on the champions this season.

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