Celtic ace admits having tension with teammate due to Ange Postecoglou

Life always seems to move at a hundred miles an hour at Celtic. The Ange Postecoglou era feels like a lifetime ago even though it has only been a little over a year since the Australian decided to leave the club in order to take the Tottenham Hotspur job. During his two seasons in Glasgow, he won five trophies and helped steady the ship after the trophyless 2020/21 campaign.

 

Postecoglou’s biggest strength as Celtic manager was his eye for talent. The club signed numerous top players during his time at Parkhead. Many continue to be starters in Brendan Rodgers’ side. Two have moved for Scottish-record transfer fees.

One of the last signings that Celtic made under the management of Alistair Johnston. And he was immediately brought into the starting XI, with question marks over the future of Josip Juranovic, who would soon leave for Union Berlin that winter.

 

Johnston has now shed some light on the behind-the-scenes situation at Celtic at the time and potential tensions. As reported by the Daily Record, he told the Footy Prime podcast:

“We trained, it was matchday minus one, and the gaffer (Postecoglou) called me up to his office.

 

“I go up there, and he goes ‘Look mate, you’re going to start, I’m going to put you at right-back. Are you ready for this? You just came off the World Cup, you’ll be like a duck to water’. I said ‘alright, perfect.’

 

“I was thinking that the other right-back had come in and said he couldn’t play, he wasn’t fit or whatever. I go to the hotel, I’m a little jittery, this is my first match, Ibrox away, league title in the balance, the big one. We get into the dressing room, he announces the lineup, and no-one knew that I was starting. Even the right-back didn’t know – he thought he was starting! I was like ‘Oh man, I’ve got to have a good game now, this is a little bit of tension’.

“Walking in there, you are absolutely behind enemy lines. It was unbelievable, the place was rocking. We went a goal up early, and I remember feeling like this is a proper match.”