WHEN Ange Postecoglou’s fledgling Celtic side were trailing Rangers at the top of the table early last season, he would laugh when suggestions were put to him that his team were already out of the title race. As it turned out, it was he who laughed last, and loudest.
So, if Celtic manage to beat Rangers at lunchtime and open up a five-point gap to them at the top of the table, he isn’t likely to be declaring his men as champions in waiting. In fact, he won’t be reading much into it at all.
For Postecoglou, talk of psychological boosts or laying down early markers in the title race is an alien concept, with his sole focus trained on how his men go about playing their football on the day.
When asked what impact a win for Celtic might have on both them and on Rangers, Postecoglou said: “Zero mate.
“If you look back this time last year, we were probably five behind. I don’t buy into psychological boost stuff. I know other people do but I don’t get it.
“If we are going to be champions it's over 38 games, not in one game, and it doesn’t matter how far ahead or behind you are at this stage.
“I think we showed last year how focused we could be. We don’t look at the table – we don’t even look at the scoreboard during the game.
“If we did, we would not have been chasing a 10th goal last week. It’s the nature of this group and it will be the same this weekend.
“The focus is not on what it gets us on the table. The motivation is to play our best football and win a game.
“My motivation is the same – I want to win every game. There’s no more motivation for certain games or competitions.
“If we get really motivated for this game, play really well and win then come next game against Livi produce a sub-par performance and drop points, what will it all mean?
“I said this time last year the champions are there after 38 games. That’s when we’ll look at the table.
“Right now we have a tough game and have to be at our best to overcome a good opponent.
“Everything else takes care of itself.”
For all that Postecoglou insists though that preparations for matters on the pitch are ordinary in weeks like this, he concedes to revelling in the extraordinary atmosphere that is sure to be created at Celtic Park this afternoon.
The game has only had a couple of days of build-up due to the League Cup match at Ross County and the closing of the transfer window, but the occasion is sure to be anything but low key.
“It might be low key in your household mate, but I can assure you I’ve not seen that to be the case!” he said.
“People haven’t failed to mention the fact we’re playing a derby. It’s a significant game.
“We obviously had an important game on Wednesday to make sure we maintained our good form and this will be a good challenge for us.
“They have started the season strongly as well and we’ll have to play to the best of our ability.
“At the game time, we’ve been consistent and improved a little every week, and that’s what we’ll take into this game. We know we are hard to stop when we are at our best.
“I absolutely love them,” he continued. “You want to be involved in big games and test yourself against the best all the time.
“If you don’t enjoy these games you’re better off not being part of a football club like this.
“It’s part of the attraction of this job. It doesn’t matter if it's your sixth or 60th derby. Ask Callum McGregor or James Forrest if they are any less excited just because they’ve been here a while.
“We know the atmosphere will be great, the contest will be strong and you want to be in these environments.”
