Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou appears to be fired up and ready for the task ahead as the critics begin to mount on the former Socceroos boss.
In recent weeks, the Hoops haven’t found themselves on the best of form with dropped points to the likes of Dundee United and Livingston in the league, added with the Bayer Leverkusen result.
However, as quoted by the Daily Record, Ange insisted he loves the challenge and the fight as he backed himself and his Celtic side to come good.
“I love this. This is what I’m passionate about, and I’ll make sure that we get to where we want to get to.
“This part of the process is not new to me. You know it’s going to be a hell of a challenge because we have changed 50 per cent of the squad, we’ve had significant injuries to key players, we are trying to change the way we play, all of those things.
“I felt we could have been further along, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to shy away from it or that I have lost any resolve in what I’m doing.
“My history, wherever I’ve been, the starts were always difficult, always challenging.
“There were always people who were going to be sceptical about it in and outside the dressing room.
“I enjoy the bit where it’s up to me to make people believe in what we’re doing, and it starts with the players. I’ve got to get them to believe in the journey we’re on.
“Instead of just dragging people along, I need them to join in on where we’re heading and lead from the front. But I love that bit. I enjoy that bit. I don’t want to shield the players from the expectations.
“They’ve got to want this as much as I do and as much as the fans do, and they’ve got to want to turn it around.
“There is nothing wrong with adversity. I grew up understanding it’s what makes you strong, and you’ve got to go through it.
“I can’t shield the whole group from the adversity we are going through because if you can push through it, you’ll become stronger out of it.
“Over time, I am happy to be judged. But this has been consistent throughout my whole career. Wherever I’ve gone, it has taken a certain amount of time for things to kick in.
“It’s up to me to show the way forward. That’s why I’m here, and I will. All I need is a few to keep us moving forward, and the rest will buy-in.
“I’m really passionate about this, and I’m not going to shy away from the fight.
“It’s all-consuming for me, but that doesn’t mean that it gets me in a space where I’m not positive, not thinking clearly or not enjoying it.
“Bizarrely, I love this part of it, which people won’t understand. But I’m hoping that in six months time when they look back, they will know why I have been so resolute and persistent about what we are doing.”
Although the results in the last couple of games have been frustrating, I still feel very optimistic that Ange will work to make this come good from a personal point of view.
It was never going to be a smooth or easy process in the early stages. However, if you look at his successes elsewhere, once the side gets settled and used to the style of play that Ange brings, they are successful.
With more key players returning from injury, fingers crossed we can see more of those positive signs return and get back to the good form which we kickstarted the early parts of the campaign with.
