Ange Postecoglou has spoke of his excitement at taking on Europe’s top teams amid the “special” Celtic Park atmosphere in the Champions League group stage.
The Australian has led the Hoops back into the continent’s flagship competition after winning the Scottish Premiership in his first season in Glasgow.
The club managed to wrestle the league title back from city rivals Rangers despite a major overhaul of the playing squad with Postecoglou named Manager of the Year for his efforts.
And the former Yokohama F. Marinos boss, who has now won titles in three different continents, revealed that he spoke to Brendan Rodgers about Champions League nights at Celtic Park.
The Leicester City manager, who won seven trophies in a row during a two and a half year spell at Parkhead, was full of praise for the atmosphere created by the Celtic support on the big nights.
Speaking to Stan Sport Football in Australia, Postecoglou said: “When I got the job Brendan Rodgers reached out to me, he’s been really good, he said European nights at Celtic Park are something special.
“That was the big carrot this year as we knew winning the league this year potentially meant direct qualification which is massive, so if I needed any further incentive to get us over the line this year that was it.”
The 56-year-old, who also lifted last season’s League Cup, has been praised for his all out attacking playing style and refuted any suggestion that he might change his approach and “park the bus” when the “big guns” visit Glasgow.
He said: “I’ve never owned a bus.
“I’m sure, as there has been my whole career, there will be people telling me I need to adjust my approach and temper my aggression and all those kind of things, but I have done pretty well to be fair by sticking to it, so I will just keep going.
“Just the fact that we can build on this year, the current group of players will naturally approve, they have to, that’s my role.”
As a pot four team the Scottish champions could be drawn against teams such as Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and PSG, and Postecoglou says he will relish any such ties that are thrown his way.
He said: “There is no doubt we will get a couple of big guns and brilliant, bring it on.”
Next season will be Celtic’s first back in the Champions League group stages since the 2017/18 season when they finished third in a group with PSG, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht.
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