Postecoglou Set To Switch Up Preparations Ahead Of Tricky Clash

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed his side will switch up their preparations ahead of this weekend’s clash against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena, with the Hoops preparing for a return to the artificial surface.

Over the last few years, under several different managers, Celtic have found Almondvale a tricky place to head to, having not picked up three points at the home of Livingston since their return to the top flight of Scottish Football.

However, Postecoglou is looking to change his side’s fortunes, at the second time of asking, and confirmed that they will prepare for this weekend by training on the artificial surface at Lennonxtown on Saturday.

“We will address it. We have an artificial pitch at Lennoxtown, and we will train on that on Saturday,” he said, as quoted by the daily record.

“We will get the players an understanding of it again, but ultimately it’s about the way we approach our football.

“On an artificial pitch, there are still fundamental principles of our game that we can do.

“What we didn’t do at Livingston last time are those things.

“We got bogged down in the disappointment that the game wasn’t going our way, without looking for the solutions.

“It’s going to be there, and players need to address that and adjust to it.

“It is a real thing – the pitch plays differently. There is no point trying to ignore it.

“I can tell the players to ignore it and play their normal game, but you do have to adjust.

“It becomes a little bit of a different game on that surface, and the players need to be prepared for that.

“But that doesn’t mean it stops you from being successful.

“You just have to adjust your game and your approach so that it removes any negative impact the pitch has on our football.”

Of course, the artificial surface against Livingston can be an inconvenience. But, at this point in time, we have played on enough 3G pitches in Scotland to be used to them by now, including various trips to Livi, Kilmarnock and Hamilton Accies.

This weekend’s fixture could be a significant moment in the title race, with the Hoops hoping to put the recent form against David Martindale’s side to bed, having dropped points twice against them this season.

Hopefully, Sunday is the opportunity for Ange and his squad to continue their good run of form, which has seen them go undefeated domestically since we last travelled to Livingston, maintaining our lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.