Tomoki Iwata shone throughout a first start for Celtic. And Ange Postecoglou reckons the Japanese midfielder is poised to hit the heights after a patient opening to his Parkhead career.
Iwata was excellent as the champions secured a victory over Ross County to take another massive step towards the title. After seven substitute appearances in Scotland after finishing last term as J-League Player of the Year and signing from Yokohama Marinos, the 25-year-old was unleashed in Dingwall due to the absence of injured pair Reo Hatate and Aaron Mooy.
Operating as the anchor in the middle of the park, Iwata was composed and impressive as his team made it 28 wins in their last 29 domestic games. Postecoglou has taken a steady approach with January arrivals such as the midfielder, defender Yuki Kobayashi and striker Oh Hyeongyu. It’s paying dividends with the hitman also looking sharp and dangerous after replacing Kyogo in the Highlands.
Postecoglou was thrilled with Iwata and said: “He was great. He was the one who looked most sure-footed in terms of the pitch and the handling of the ball. He’s so clean technically.
“He really helped us considering it was his first 90 minutes after three months. He finished strongly at the end. I was really pleased I got him out and he showed his qualities out there.”
The patient in the bedding-in period will assist as Postecoglou explained: “I think he will get the benefit. Last year we found with Daizen [Meada] and Reo, who we threw in quite early, they started strongly but fatigued towards the end of the season.
“They have come off a full season, so it’s a different feel for them at this stage of the season. So my inkling if it worked out was to get those three boys embedded slowly and give them opportunities along the way.
“Hopefully, in the last bit of the season, they will be really strong. We will see the best of them after they’ve had a pre-season, but after looking at it, he looked really strong.”
Postecoglou looked delighted as he made his way to the away support at full-time with another key success ticked off. Despite their lowly position in the table, the hosts were dogged and determined and made the champions fight for their win.
Postecoglou admitted it was not a vintage display from his side, but the penalty in first-half stoppage-time from Jota and a late blockbuster from Alexandro Bernabei sealed the triumph. The Celtic boss said: “It was a good challenge. The conditions and the way Ross County play, we knew it wouldn’t be an easy afternoon.
“There wasn’t a lot of space to play for the most part, but we still had discipline and focus within the structure. We were wasteful in front of goal and that keeps them in the game. It’s then edgier than it should be, but overall the lads handled it okay.
“With the conditions the way they were it isn’t going to be a free flowing game of football. But, aside from the football, there was steel and character in the group to get the job done.”
Bernabei’s late stunner was a first strike for the club and celebrated wildly by the fans behind the goal who had a brilliant view and by his colleagues. Postecoglou said: “It was good from Berno. We know he has it in his locker because we see it in training.
“Hopefully it gives him confidence and belief. He’s still learning and getting up to speed with the way we play which isn’t easy. He works hard every day and has got his reward. We had guys getting on making an impact which is what we ask for.”
Bernabei made his appearance following an injury sustained in the second period of the game by Greg Taylor. The Celtic ace hobbled from the field, but the boss suggests it is not a long-term concern and shouldn’t keep him on the sidelines. Postecoglou said: “He had a dead leg which hampered him, but it’s nothing that’s going to keep him out I wouldn’t think.”
Celtic are now nine points clear in the title race with just eight games to go and can take another big stride towards glory when Rangers visit Parkhead on Saturday. Making sure their healthy advantage was maintained going into the third Old Firm Premiership meeting of the season was vital.
Given the fact he was without the likes of Hatate, Mooy, Liel Abada and Anthony Ralston due to injury and there were other stars back into the business having been away with their international teams, it was a highly satisfactory outing for the boss. Postecoglou pushed aside rustiness after the break as a reason for the lack of fluency and said: “I don’t think so. It’s just the nature of the game.
“The pitch wasn’t great. You could see a few times our footing went but we hit the post twice. A couple of balls flashed across the goal when we’re usually there.
“It’s not great coming out of the international break. I don’t like it because we have guys coming in at different times. We only had two days going into it.
"We weren’t sure if some would make it. Sead Haksabanovic wasn’t feeling well in the morning. It’s fairly disruptive, but this group doesn’t want to yield to excuses or challenges put forward to them.”
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