Ange Postecoglou has been reflecting on his first trophy win at Celtic as the Hoops look to once again book their place in the final at Hampden to retain the silverware.
Celtic won the then Premier Sports Cup days before Christmas in 2021 as they defeated Hibs 2-1 after two stunning strikes from Kyogo Furuhashi.
They had to come back fighting having went down a goal in the game after Paul Hanlon put the Hibees in front but Postecoglou’s team responded instantly the following minute and it was once again all square.
Many Hoops fans and players had got behind the new manager after his arrival at the club during the summer but he knows his vision didn’t carry as much weight as it would until the club brought a trophy back home to Celtic Park.
The season previous had been absolutely dismal as a Celtic supporter having watched the club implode on their quest for ten in a row and go from winning every trophy available in Scottish football to nothing.
It was important to the team that they won that first trophy on offer as a collective to shake off the cobwebs of the previous campaign and show the fans that they were up for the challenge.
Postecoglou looks back on that success fondly as being pivotal in the Hoops quest to win the league last season as they returned firing after the winter break.
Although the Australian boss always likes to look forward he acknowledged the triumph and what it did for him at Celtic.
“In the context of where we are on our journey, to win a trophy so early certainly helped fast-track a lot of the things I wanted to implement. When you’re winning major trophies three months into your tenure it garners belief in everything you’re doing and accelerates everyone’s learnings,” said Postecoglou as quoted by the Daily Record.
“And they want more of it. You talk about having success and when you win something it’s not something abstract. So in the context of where we are now it was certainly a very important part of our season.”
Celtic last featured at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi final last year when they were defeated in extra time at the the national stadium as the players got to taste the other end of cup football which will be a good grounding going into this fixture.
“I’ve enjoyed the wins, didn’t enjoy the loss.
“That’s always the main thing I guess. It’s a unique venue in that whenever you play at Hampden you know there is something on the line. You’re not playing there for it to be just another game – it’s either a semi-final or a final. It’s always a great occasion and we are looking forward to it. I’ve enjoyed all three games for the occasions they are and, again, for us to make it memorable we have to perform well and win.”
