The Australian arrived at Celtic after one of the most turbulent seasons in the club’s recent history after losing the Scottish Premiership title to Rangers in 2021.
Postecoglou brought a brand of football to Celtic that blew away Rangers and Scottish football and returned the club as the dominant force in Scotland.
However, after securing the Parkhead club’s eighth domestic treble, Postecoglou left Celtic for Spurs and after a turbulent season, the Australian gaffer has been on the receiving end of some scathing criticism, especially from the media.
And last night, Postecoglou took his opportunity to bite back at what was recently said about him.
Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou branded a ‘clown’ at Spurs
Now, on the brink of Europa League glory, Postecoglou held his pre-match press conference when he took a reporter to task for suggesting he could be labelled a clown if he fails to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Postecoglou was fuming at the reporter who wrote the article and let him know in no uncertain terms what he thought when the very same journalist asked him a question at his press conference.
Postecoglou barked back, “That depends on your outlook, Dan. I’ll tell you one thing, irrespective of what happens tomorrow night, I’m not a clown and never will be mate.
”I’m really disappointed that you would use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, who’s worked his way into a position where he’s leading out a club in a final in a major European competition, for you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means I am a clown, I’m not really sure how to answer that question.”
It was a reply very familiar to Celtic supporters and caused numerous headlines south of the border. And here, Ally McCoist explains why he is in Postecoglou’s ‘corner’ after the outburst.
Ally McCoist rages at ‘ridiculous’ treatment of Celtic hero Postecoglou
McCoist will be on commentary duty with TNT Sports for the Europa League final tonight and he raged at the reporter’s lack of respect for the former Celtic manager.
McCoist said on talkSPORT, “He’s right, I think it’s a ridiculous question. It’s a stupid question. To label him a clown is just wrong on so many counts.
“So I think he’s well entitled to fight his corner. It’s a stupid question. Everything gets back to Ange. Sometimes it’s maybe better to let it go in one ear and out the other. But no, my own opinion, mate, I thought that overstepped the mark. I really did.
“And he let him know he wasn’t happy with the article. No, I would have found it stranger had he not reacted to that, to be honest with you.
“I think that overstepped the mark, and by a distance. I’m with Ange on this one. That’s personal.
“That’s got nothing to do with his ability to coach, to manage or pick a team or get results. That’s way above that.
“That’s not the game for me. I’m in big Ange’s corner all day with that one mate.”
Many Celtic fans will have a close eye on tonight’s Europa League final and will be willing Postecoglou on to beat Manchester United.
Because the scenes it will cause and the ‘I told you so’ he could send to his critics would be absolutely epic to see.
