Postecoglou: We're only at the start of what I want to build

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has said he’s only at the beginning of the changes he wants to bring to the team but is enoucrage by the form of recent games.

The Australian suffered a rocky start to his tenure in terms of results, with a Champions League exit to Midtjylland and league defeat to Hearts marking his early competitive games.

Since then the team has found a groove, with a dangerous attack and a style of play that has excited Celtic supporters on their return to Celtic Park.

Asked how far the team was from full representing his style and football philopsophy, Postecoglou was reluctant to get carried away with the progress made but said there was plenty more growth to come.

“We’re only at the beginning,” he said. “It’s great but it’s only about two-and-a-half or three weeks since people were questioning what I was doing.

“We’re still very much at the beginning of what we want to try and create here and what I want to create.

“Irrespective of whether that process is perceived to be quick or slow, it’s going to take time to build the squad we want and play the football we want on a consistent basis, to deal with the inevitable challenges that are before us.

“For me it’s very much the beginning but I’ve said from day one that it doesn’t discount the responsibility that I have to bring results to the football club. We have some very important games early in the season and we knew that with Champions League and the start of the league.

“Those things can’t wait until I build and implement the overriding philosophy that I want to so it’s a balancing act but we’re still very much at the beginning.”

The manager said that the transition had been smoother because of the instant support he had from his playing squad and the fans. but he was more than aware that he would be judged on results and that they could change as quickly as they had arrived.

Postecoglou is still working to add to his squad before the transfer deadline and said that while they were close to some signings, none were over the line yet. And asked if he may return to the Japanese market to sign players after the instant impact of Kyogo Furuhashi, the former Yokohama F Marinos boss said that was very much in his plans but not for this transfer window.

“I’ve been looking at it very closely,” he said. “I know the Japanese market very well but it’s also a tricky time. They’re still sort of mid-season and there’s a lot of players I would love to have a look at closely and bring over but it’s almost impossible to get them out because clubs are playing for league or cup or Champions League.

“Traditionally it’s always been easier to get them out in our winter break at their end of season.

“It is a market I know well and I think there’s a lot of talent there that people haven’t realised. That’s not to say they’ll all be at Kyogo’s level. He’s dominated that league for the last three or four years.

“I was surprised he hadn’t left earlier, to be honest.”