Ange Postecoglou has name-checked his time at Celtic with a brilliant reminder of the main reason he loved beating Rangers during his time in Glasgow.
The Tottenham manager was much loved (and still is) by the Celtic supporters over the two seasons he was in charge.
And even now, in the midst of preparing for a huge game against Arsenal today, the former Hoops gaffer cited his experiences in Paradise as a perfect example to tell the assembled journalists that winning the Glasgow Derby with Celtic means he has a perfect understanding of what it means to come out on top in these huge games.
Postecoglou’s Celtic reminder ahead of North London Derby
Whilst the North London Derby is a huge occasion it doesn’t come anywhere close to the size and meaning of the Glasgow Derby.
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers fans in Scottish football’s biggest game of the season is, in my opinion, unmatched anywhere else in football.
And whilst Postecoglou appreciates the enormity of the upcoming Spurs game, he has not forgotten about Celtic and what it meant to come out on top after these huge fixtures.
Postecoglou said [Football London], “I want to win and I understand the importance of winning against your rival. I’ve just come down from Glasgow. I’ve got a fair idea about what derbies mean to supporters.
“I never believe your motivation should revolve around the demise of somebody else. Your motivation should be about yourself. I want to win because I want us to achieve something.
“I want us to progress. I want us to be in a position fighting for the title. That’s what drives me, not the demise.
“If that’s your kind of measure, always peering over the back fence to see what your neighbour’s building you could both have the worst houses in the street because everyone else is building beautiful places and you’re looking over the back fence.
“I never wanted to win those games because it meant Rangers would lose. I wanted to win as I wanted us to win the title.”
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic record vs Rangers
Postecoglou enjoyed a really successful record in the Glasgow Derby against Rangers.
In eleven meetings, the former Celtic manager won six, drew two and lost just three. The first loss was at the beginning of the rebuild during his first season at the club.
The final defeat was when the league was already sewn up at the end of his treble-winning tenure and sandwiched between both was the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat after extra time at Hampden that denied the Australian a possible treble in his maiden season.
However, Ange quickly recognised and found a way to beat Rangers and enjoyed massive victories over the Ibrox club.
The 3-0 win in February at Paradise to take Celtic to the top of the league will long be remembered as one of the best performances by the Hoops in this fixture.
Celtic then went on a five-game unbeaten run against Rangers recording a massive 4-0 win in the league, a 2-1 League Cup Final victory and avenging the Scottish Cup defeat of the previous season with another 1-0 win at Hampden which then led to Celtic lifting an historic eighth domestic treble. [Transfermarket]