Chris Sutton scored many a goal for Celtic in European competition and is backing his old side to give reigning champions Real Madrid a bloody nose by the time they head back to the Spanish capital.
The Hoops head into the game having won every match they’ve played so far this season with the team bursting with confidence.
Real Madrid will be Postecoglou’s toughest test yet but the former Socceroos manager will not be fazed by the opposition.
He has already went up against some of the finest coaches at the World Cup before and will intend on setting his Celtic team out to beat Real Madrid.
Sutton who had five great years working under Martin O’Neill is a fan of Postecoglou’s brand of football and believes that it can be a success on the grand stage.
“Ange Postecoglou is a pure footballing coach and his high-risk approach won’t be out of place in the Champions League,” said Chris Sutton writing in the Daily Record.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
“The Celtic manager is determined to do it his way and why shouldn’t he? Has he not earned the right to do so? And, anyway, it makes no sense for a manager to coach players for an entire season to play one way and then ask them to rip it up and do something the opposite on the biggest stage of the lot.
“Celtic build from the back, they take risks. It’s the same approach as Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Obviously, Guardiola has a higher standard of player at his disposal, but this young team of Postecoglou’s are having great success with it and I fully believe they can give Real Madrid a bloody nose by going at it in this manner. I’ve got to say, this Celtic team under Postecoglou are a great watch. They are so fast and fluid and some of the football is a joy.
“I’m well aware there’s more than one way to get the job done. I recall Neil Lennon’s team beating Barcelona a decade ago with barely any possession. That was a hang-in-the-game backs-to-the-wall job.
“Postecoglou won’t be doing that. He’s said as much. Celtic have every right to have a go at the European champions tomorrow night and they’ll be confident about it after the way they steamrollered Rangers.”
The confidence couldn’t be any higher amongst the Celtic squad at this point in time with this game coming so soon after the 4-0 derby victory.
Celtic’s Liel Abada scores their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
The standards of football at the club have been built on high intensity free-flowing football which makes Ange Postecoglou the perfect fit for the club.
A key aspect to Celtic’s game plan is going to be focus. High-risk intense football can be torn apart by one misplaced pass meaning that every player must be on the top of their game and ready for the challenge.
It will be interesting to see how Madrid approach this game because if they leave gaps Postecoglou will look for his team to exploit them.
