The “intense” coaching style of Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been hailed by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Former Socceroos coach Postecoglou faces arguably the biggest challenge of his club coaching career when Celtic hosts Ancelotti’s Spanish giants in a UEFA Champions League Group F match on Wednesday morning (AEST).
Postecoglou, whose side’s perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season included a weekend 4-0 Old Firm thumping of Rangers. has vowed the Hoops will continue to play their attacking brand of football and won’t be intimidated by the might of the 14-time European club champions.
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“If we’re not successful, fair enough, but let’s go down swinging, rather than deferring to someone because they’re a good team,” Postecoglou told The Sunday Post.
“What a great opportunity to play our football. Our supporters want us to take the game to Real Madrid, and see where it takes us. Let’s have a crack anyway.
“Maybe if I was German, Dutch or Spanish, people might look at me differently as a manager in terms of tactics.
“Apparently, I’ve got one simple approach, a ‘Plan A’, but we’ll just stick to that.”
It’s a plan that is appreciated the highly respected and credentialed Ancelotti.
“They play very intense,” Ancelotti said.
“They have had a great start to the season, there will be a great atmosphere in their stadium.
“We’ve got the most difficult game of this first half of the season. We’re going to be up against a team playing great football and we have to be ready.”
Postecoglou said the chance for Celtic to play against Real Madrid was “why you want to be at this football club”.
“You want to be part of these big occasions and big nights, and it’s another great challenge for us,” the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory coach said.
“You want to measure and test yourself against the best and that’s what we’re going to do. They’re the best and we’ll test ourselves.”
Celtic midfielder David Turnbull told The Scottish Sun that Postecoglou had instilled great confidence into the Hoops squad.
“He’s drilled into us from day one the way he wants to play and that won’t change for anybody,” Turnbull said of Postecoglou.
“I don’t think we will change. We will go into the game (against Real Madrid) full of confidence and try to play our own game.
“Whether it works or it doesn’t, we will stay play that way and, hopefully, it does work.
“If we got through the group (to reach the knockout stages), that would be a massive achievement.”
