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Martin O'Neill Backs Ange Postecoglou To Emulate His Success At Celtic

Martin O'Neill Backs Ange Postecoglou To Emulate His Success At Celtic
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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Things are looking up for Celtic. That makes quite the change.

This time last year, many were speculating about the possibility of a long period of Rangers dominance. The Hoops were faltering, with their squad desperately in need of an overhaul. On the other hand, Steven Gerrard had put together a promising squad at Ibrox.

The situation looks different now, and much of that is down to Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian arrived in Glasgow as an unknown quantity, although he has quickly won over the supporters. His signings have been excellent, while the team are also playing an exciting and attractive brand of football.

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After the 3-0 victory over Rangers in midweek, they look like strong favourites to win back the title. Martin O'Neill is impressed with what he has seen from the new manager.

Martin O'Neill backs Ange Postecoglou to shine at Celtic

Speaking to the BBC, the former Celtic boss even backed Postecoglou to emulate the success that the Northern Irishman experienced in Europe with the club.

There is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't do that (have success in Europe).

It's very difficult not to be impressed by him. His whole manner and the way he went about his business after a very difficult start.

He had to answer a lot of questions at the time, perhaps because he wasn't that well known. He had to try to stamp his own personality on it. That's so important for a manager.

When you are not getting early results, you need to stick with the principles you have and those things were important to him.

That will stand him in brilliant stead.

He mentioned before the game the difference in the side now, compared to the start of the season. It's like day and night. Hopefully that will sustain.

Now they are on, it's a matter of keeping going but the confidence won't disappear overnight...

I'd like to re-emphasise just how massive that is getting to the real business end of the season. I know it's early February and I know there's a lot of points to play for - that's exactly how Rangers will look at it.

There's still big games ahead, obviously they have to play each other again. You talk about a confidence boost and not just that, the manner of the victory as well.

All of those things go straight into the psyche, and you really couldn't ask for better.

Rangers are now feeling down that they've been caught suddenly when they thought they had a really reasonable lead and there's Celtic topping the table in the first week in February.

O'Neill won three league titles, three Scottish Cups, a Scottish League Cup, and reached a UEFA Cup final during his time at Celtic. Postecoglou would certainly take a haul similar to that at the end of his tenure.

Improvements in Europe will also be required, with Celtic largely failing to perform on that stage in recent times.

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A recent boost to Scotland's UEFA co-efficient may help in this regard. A league title win would all but guarantee a place in the groups stages of next season's Champions League, unless the competition winners in this campaign fail to qualify via their league standing.

SEE ALSO: Ireland's Festy Ebosele Having Serie A Medical Ahead Of Summer Transfer

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