Celtic supporters have bought into Ange Postecoglou in a big way.
Not only because the Australian has progressed this Celtic side so much in the past six months, but because he’s always prepared to give an honest answer to questions put to him.
Ange always faces the media and gives it straight – even when it’s easier to throw out a tired cliché.
At the beginning of the week, it looked as if Celtic would sign Riley McGree from Charlotte before Middlesbrough offered him more lucrative terms.
The Celtic boss was very candid about the deal and how things went down.
The manager echoed the sentiments of many Celtic fans on Thursday when he made it clear, if he has to convince any player to come play their football at Celtic, they’re unlikely to be the kind of player he wants.
Speaking to RecordSport, Ange said:
“Nothing too exciting. He’s a player I know well and it came across my path he may be available.
“I had a discussion with him and then he obviously decided he wanted to take an opportunity elsewhere, which is fine.
“It wasn’t really anything too drastic for us.
“It was just a discussion with a player I know well and for me it was an interesting proposition.
“But it didn’t work out, which is fine. He moves on and we move on.
“It’s an indication for me this isn’t the right place for him.
“It works both ways.
“I only want players who want to be here.
“I won’t try to convince any player to come and sign for this football club. I won’t.
“If they can’t see the opportunities that exist here then that’s part of the deal for me.
“The ones we have signed all wanted to come here.
“It’s an easy decision. Everyone has their own free will to decide what’s best for them. But I’m not going to sell this club to anyone on its attributes or virtues.
“If they can’t understand that in the first place then they’re probably not worth talking to from my perspective.
“With Riley McGree there weren’t a lot of discussions.
“There was a bit of interest but when it’s clear to me that they don’t want to come to us it’s fine. We don’t progress it from there.
“He’s one of a number I would have spoken to in the last six months that didn’t end up coming to us for a variety of reasons.
“If it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out and it’s fine.”
Ange needs players who are all in on what he’s trying to do at the club.
If some players want to take the cash over being part of something special then that’s their prerogative.
The Celtic gaffer seems pragmatic enough to know not everyone is going to buy into Celtic but like Celtic fans, Ange knows this place is special and if players need extra incentives to sign then it’s absolutely right we move on.
