*This article was written for a print edition earlier this year before the end of the 21/22 SPFL season*
Celtic’s domestic campaign, under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou, is going to plan and even exceeding expectations with performances answering critics.
With Celtic already having won the league cup with a 2-1 victory over Hibernian back in December 2021, and still battling the title race with Rangers along with being in the semi finals of the Scottish cup as of writing in late March, clearly Celtic have been a much better side since the arrival of Postecoglou.
Despite the disappointment of being knocked out of the Europa Conference League at the round of 32 stage by Bodo/Glimt in February, fans have been impressed with the Australian managers philosophy and energetic attacking style of play that has been deployed every week no matter the opposition.
This style of play has been able to work with the signings that Celtic have made this season with notable incomings including wingers Liel Abada and Jota, midfielder Reo Hatate, and strikers Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Giorgios Giakoumakis.
Celtic have also managed to successfully construct a new back-4 with experienced former England goalkeeper Joe Hart becoming the club’s new number 1 while a new centre back partnership sees Tottenham loanee Cameron Carter Vickers line up alongside Swedish international Carl Starfelt.
Croatian right-back Josip Juranovic, who has quickly become a fan favourite, also looks like one of Celtic’s best bargain buys in recent years as he joined the club for a fee of £2.5m from Polish champions Legia Warsaw.
These new signings have done a brilliant job of replacing some departures from Celtic that were made in the summer of 2021 with French striker Odsonne Edouard joining Crystal Place for £15m, Norwegian centre back Kristoffer Ajer joining Brentford for £13.5m, and Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie moving to Bournemouth for £1m.
Postecoglou has also managed to revitalise some of Celtic’s current players from the previous season, with fellow countryman Tom Rogic going from almost being sold to a mystery team in Qatar in the summer of 2020, to being one of Celtic’s most influential players as he has regained his form that was last seen in the 2016/17 campaign.
Right back Anthony Ralston, who looked to be on his way out of the club before Postecoglou’s arrival, has become an important member of the squad as he was Celtic’s only option in his position at the start of the season, allowing him to fight for his place and become an important squad player with his consistent good performances.
The difference in both confidence and performance from the team compared to last season is clear as night and day. This time last year, Rangers had already won the league by a massive 20-point margin and Celtic were out of both cups after round of 16 exits to Ross County in the league cup and Rangers in the Scottish cup.
With the disastrous 2020/21 campaign, it could only really get better for Celtic fans this time around, however not many from both supporters to the media could have expected such instant success from the relatively unknown Australian manager to the Scottish game.
Even if Rangers do retain their title, Celtic can still look back on this season with hope as it looks to be the start of a new and better time for the club where the support have managed to regain some pride by challenging on all domestic fronts once again.
If Celtic can start to offer similar European performances like Rangers are doing, then it looks as though Ange Postecoglou will be given the chance to stay at the helm for several years to come.
