uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
ANGE POSTECOGLOU admits Celtic were ill-prepared for their crucial Champions League qualifier.
And he insists: "It’s all on ME."
Nir Bitton was stupidly sent off in Celtic's 1-1 Euro draw with Midtjylland.
While keeper Vasilis Barkas was at fault for the Danish side’s equaliser.
But Postecoglou defended his Hoops players and insists he’s to blame - even confessing he’s not done a great job since taking over.
He said: “I don't think we will ever be as badly prepared as we were tonight - and that's on me - going into such an important game.
“We have eight more days I feel confident that the preparation and the spirt we have, we will put in a good performance.
"It is on me.
“I don’t think I’m at a disadvantage, my role is to try and support these players and try to prepare them the best I can for what is in front of us.
“I haven’t done a great job so far to be honest, because with the disruptions we’ve had, we haven’t been able to bring the players in.
“My role is to try and reinforce this squad and to try to prepare this squad for what is ahead, and to their credit, the players didn’t look for excuses tonight.
“They put in a solid shift, and I’m just disappointed they didn’t get the rewards for what I thought was an outstanding performance.
“But I’m the manager of the football club. I’m the one that takes that responsibility of providing support for the players and staff.
“If things aren’t happening it’s on me to make them happen.”
Celts took the lead through new £3.4m signing Liel Abada.
But Bitton was sent off for two bookable offences.
Midtjylland were then reduced to ten men too.
But Barkas conceded a free-kick as the Danes took a 1-1 draw into next week’s second leg.
Postecoglou added: “I’m getting a lot of glass half empty questions at the moment.
"I think there was plenty of positives tonight rather than people looking for little things that potentially didn’t go right.
“I thought it was a decent strike, we limited them to a couple of shots on goal with a really brand new back four.
“The midfield worked their socks off. The amount of running that Soro and Cal and Ryan Christie did was unbelievable.
“There’s nothing I’m disappointed in tonight. I’m frustrated at the result because the players didn’t get the result I thought they deserved.”
On Bitton’s red card, Postecoglou added: “I was frustrated at the result, as a I said, not the performance, but Nir had already been booked and when you’ve been booked you have to be careful in your actions.
“When you infringe again, you give the opportunity to the referee to give you another caution.
“It’s disappointing for him more than anything, because he was really keen to put in a strong performance.
“He had started the game really well for us, so it’s disappointing for him that he misses the second game as well.”
And he insists: "It’s all on ME."
Nir Bitton was stupidly sent off in Celtic's 1-1 Euro draw with Midtjylland.
While keeper Vasilis Barkas was at fault for the Danish side’s equaliser.
But Postecoglou defended his Hoops players and insists he’s to blame - even confessing he’s not done a great job since taking over.
He said: “I don't think we will ever be as badly prepared as we were tonight - and that's on me - going into such an important game.
“We have eight more days I feel confident that the preparation and the spirt we have, we will put in a good performance.
"It is on me.
“I don’t think I’m at a disadvantage, my role is to try and support these players and try to prepare them the best I can for what is in front of us.
“I haven’t done a great job so far to be honest, because with the disruptions we’ve had, we haven’t been able to bring the players in.
“My role is to try and reinforce this squad and to try to prepare this squad for what is ahead, and to their credit, the players didn’t look for excuses tonight.
“They put in a solid shift, and I’m just disappointed they didn’t get the rewards for what I thought was an outstanding performance.
“But I’m the manager of the football club. I’m the one that takes that responsibility of providing support for the players and staff.
“If things aren’t happening it’s on me to make them happen.”
Celts took the lead through new £3.4m signing Liel Abada.
But Bitton was sent off for two bookable offences.
Midtjylland were then reduced to ten men too.
But Barkas conceded a free-kick as the Danes took a 1-1 draw into next week’s second leg.
Postecoglou added: “I’m getting a lot of glass half empty questions at the moment.
"I think there was plenty of positives tonight rather than people looking for little things that potentially didn’t go right.
“I thought it was a decent strike, we limited them to a couple of shots on goal with a really brand new back four.
“The midfield worked their socks off. The amount of running that Soro and Cal and Ryan Christie did was unbelievable.
“There’s nothing I’m disappointed in tonight. I’m frustrated at the result because the players didn’t get the result I thought they deserved.”
On Bitton’s red card, Postecoglou added: “I was frustrated at the result, as a I said, not the performance, but Nir had already been booked and when you’ve been booked you have to be careful in your actions.
“When you infringe again, you give the opportunity to the referee to give you another caution.
“It’s disappointing for him more than anything, because he was really keen to put in a strong performance.
“He had started the game really well for us, so it’s disappointing for him that he misses the second game as well.”
