Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has expressed high admiration for Ange Postecoglou’s remarkable transformation of Celtic during his tenure. Postecoglou, who now manages Tottenham Hotspur, first caught Guardiola’s attention during his time at Yokohama Marinos in Japan but the Spaniard admits to watching what Ange was doing at Celtic.
Under Postecoglou’s guidance, Celtic experienced a dramatic resurgence. They overcame a seven-point deficit at Christmas to clinch the league title, and in the following season, they achieved a historic treble. This success was a testament to Postecoglou’s tactical acumen and leadership.
Reflecting on Postecoglou’s impact, Guardiola told RecordSport, “What he has done in the past in Japan and, of course, in Glasgow with Celtic and now Spurs, I think he makes football a better place, people like Ange. I am a manager but also a spectator, and I enjoy a lot the way they play, the approach they have, and all the Spurs and fans in England can see they’ve been really good.”
Guardiola also highlighted Postecoglou’s unwavering commitment to his playing style, saying, “Is he going to change when they play against us? Absolutely not. This is not going to happen. It would be a surprise.”
He reminisced about their first encounter when City played Yokohama, noting, “We won because we had better players, but this is the first time I met him, and since then I have followed him, how good he did in Glasgow with Celtic, winning trebles. In a short time and now look, it’s there.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with Nolito
Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith
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Guardiola’s respect for Postecoglou underscores the latter’s impressive journey from transforming Celtic from a struggling team during the COVID season to a dominant force once again, and now taking on a new challenge at Spurs. Their upcoming face-off on Sunday is eagerly anticipated, showcasing a clash of tactical minds and footballing philosophies.
