‘ZERO DIFFERENCE,’ ANGE EXPLAINS EURO DECISION
ANGE POSTECOGLOU insists flying to Norway for a training session on the Bodo/Glimt pitch will make “absolutely zero difference” before Celtic play their Europa Conference League second leg tomorrow night.
The Hoops are trailing 3-1 following their collapse at Parkhead last week and the Greek-Australian gaffer is adamant his team can still turn the tier around.
In normal UEFA circumstances, the visiting team will arrive the day before the game to hold a training session on the home pitch to get a feel for the playing surface and the dimensions of the pitch.
In the midst of wild weather conditions in the Arctic Circle, the Premiership pacesetters have opted to cancel protocols and Postecoglou said: “Here in Scotland, we obviously have exposure to artificial pitches.
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS…it’s snow joke for Ange Postecoglou.
“We have already had two games this year on an artificial pitch, so there is no a great deal to be gained
“Every week has a different challenge. If you are expecting that after one session you are going to find some miracle on an artificial pitch that you haven’t thought about, that is going to win you the game, then you fall into the wrong trap.
“I have been involved in football for a long time, especially at national team level, even in Australia, where you have to deal with extreme climatic conditions and extreme pitch conditions.”
Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “When I was with the national team, we were travelling from cold climates to the Middle East in literally 24 hours, bumpy pitches to slow pitches, and what I found in the end is that the best approach is to make sure that your players are always prepared to deal with whatever challenges there are.
“There is no easy solution. Us flying there today and having a session on their pitch is going to make absolutely zero difference.
“Us being here, getting a good training session with the boys, getting them prepared for a difficult game tomorrow, is much more important to me.”
