UNBREAKABLE
Attractive football is a priority for Ange... but his team are also developing a mental fortitude that is creating a headache for rest of the SPFL
aS a Celtic player in the mid-90s, Malky Mackay can testify that aesthetically pleasing football does not necessarily equate to success. For all the sides fashioned by the late Tommy Burns remain fondly remembered by the Parkhead support on account of their edge-of-the-seat entertainment value, a solitary Scottish Cup in 1995 was the sum total of their tangible rewards.
The blunt truth is that, despite the individual brilliance of Pierre van Hooijdonk, Jorge Cadete and Paolo Di Canio, the Celtic teams of that era often lacked nerve in defining moments.
What the current Ross County boss and his Premiership peers would give for ange Postecoglou’s side to have the same chink in its armour.
While the australian has assembled a squad capable of bamboozling opponents with his brand of high-octane attacking football, their true strength arguably lies in their mental fortitude.
Eight months after anthony Ralston headed a 97th-minute winner in Dingwall, alex Iacovitti’s equaliser on Saturday left Mackay and his players 32 minutes shy from a large degree of revenge.
If anxiety and frustration permeate the minds of Postecoglou’s players in such moments, they certainly hide it well.
Their belief in the process seemingly absolute, the late goals of Moritz Jenz and Liel abada were something of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Now 34 league games unbeaten across two seasons, the next team to derail this Celtic side will somehow have to overcome their deep reserves of resistance.
‘I think when you believe in something as strongly as these guys do, and they believe in each other, whatever impediment there is in front of us, they feel confident they can overcome,’ said Postecoglou.
‘The game of football is funny. You can dominate a game and should be comfortably ahead, and then they get a corner and score, which is part of their strengths. You are looking for a reaction — and the reaction was first class.’
Postecoglou wouldn’t swap all the tea in China for direct entry to the Champions League, but perhaps the one downside of the absence of midweek qualifiers is the extra time it will take his side to fully hit top gear.
as against aberdeen at home last week, the australian’s side were worthy winners in the Highlands — even if the performance was again some way short of perfect.
County’s organisation and commitment in the first half had something to do with that. as did Celtic’s inability to ensure their domination translated into an unassailable advantage.
although Daizen Maeda twice went close in the opening period, the lack of space in behind County’s back four curtailed his threat. The same applied to Kyogo Furuhashi, who was restricted to one smash at goal.
The knock Maeda sustained in the opening period forced Postecoglou into a telling reshuffle at the interval.
Jota switched flanks to replace the Japanese on the left, with abada slotting in on the right. Celtic were immediately the better for it.
Three minutes after the restart, Callum McGregor’s threaded pass released Jota in the left channel with the winger’s nimble footwork eliminating Jordan Tillson. His cutback was thumped home by Furuhashi from ten yards.
Jenz stole the headlines with a crucial goal on a debut which was largely impressive, although not without some moments of concern.
The German was booked for an ill-timed challenge on Jordy Hiwula, with Joe Hart producing an excellent save from Owura Edwards’ free-kick.
This came six minutes after Jenz was outjumped by Iacovitti as they contested Edwards’ corner. On this occasion, Hart was unable to prevent the ball from landing in the net.
Celtic just kept going, however, with their passing and movement gradually wearing County down.
The concession of a corner with six minutes remaining had County skipper Jack Baldwin screaming at his team-mates to switch on but, by then, their minds and bodies were weak.
Greg Taylor’s quick-thinking from the set-piece gave Jota the half yard he needed to flash a cross on to the six-yard line. Jenz attacked it and applied a fine finish with his head.
abada’s reward for an enterprising second half came at the end of another rapid passing move.
Taylor was again involved in hunting the ball down. Jota’s pass chalked up his third assist of the day as abada netted on the turn with a delicious curling strike beyond Ross Laidlaw.
‘We are always believing in ourselves during games,’ said abada. ‘I am really happy we managed to win it.
‘at the start of the match, it was a little bit difficult but, in the second half, we managed to get chances.
‘I am happy to score the goal and for the team to get three points. Now we are now looking to the next game.’
What’s the secret of a team repeatedly prevailing in these moments of adversity?
‘It’s just that we look from game to game and look to do our jobs and play our football,’ added abada. ‘Hopefully, we will keep it going.
‘The manager is always ready for each of the games and then he always tells us what to do when we are in them.
‘But we look at it game to game. I really hope that we can keep it going. all the focus just goes onto the next one. That’s it.’
Next up is Kilmarnock at Rugby Park next Sunday where, doubtless, another arduous task awaits.
There is reason to believe, though, that Celtic are only just getting going. The squad is incomparable to this time last year in every aspect. When a player of abada’s quality finds himself starting on the bench, the signs for the opposition are ominous.
‘There is a good chance that any one of the players who are in the squad can be named in the first XI,’ said the Israeli.
‘If I am not one of those, I will still do my hard work and be positive. Then, when I do have get a chance, I want to make sure I help the team.
‘We have a lot of games to play at Celtic and it’s a long season here. So I just look towards my training and then from game to game.
‘When I get the chances, I want to do the best for myself and for the team. I am happy I did it in this game and all the boys will now keep going and look forward.’
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Laidlaw 6; Randall 5, Baldwin 6, Iacovitti 6, Purrington 5; Callaghan 6, Cancola 6 (White 83); Tillson 5 (Johnson 69) Samuel 5 (Loturi 45) Paton 5 (Edwards); Hiwula 6 (Harmon 69). Subs not used: Eastwood, Dhanda, Sims, Olaigbe. Booked: Randall, Cancola, Callaghan, Tillson. CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Hart 7; Juranovic 7, Carter-Vickers 7, Jenz 7, Taylor 8; McGregor 7, O’Riley 6; Turnbull 6 (Giakoumakis 72) Jota 9, Furuhashi 6 (Mooy 86); Maeda 6 (Abada 45). Subs not used: Siegrist, Starfelt, McCarthy, Bernabei, Forrest, Ralston. Booked: Jenz, Abada. Man of the match: Jota. Referee: Don Robertson. Attendance: 5,502.