Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has once again taken aim at Ange Postecoglou, this time downplaying the Australian’s achievements at Celtic.
Despite Postecoglou leading Spurs to Europa League glory last season and recently taking the reins at Nottingham Forest, Jordan used his talkSPORT platform to dismiss his time in Glasgow.
The pundit claimed that Celtic’s domestic success under Postecoglou counted for little given the lack of competition in Scotland, and went as far as to label him tactically inept. Jordan argued that the Premier League is an entirely different challenge, where Postecoglou’s methods will be scrutinised far more heavily.
Postecoglou’s track record tells a different story, with trophies won in Australia, Japan, Scotland and now Europe. At Celtic he secured back-to-back league titles and a domestic treble, after a double in his first season, transforming the squad and re-establishing dominance after Rangers’ title win in 2021.
Nonetheless, Jordan chose to highlight criticism of Postecoglou’s defensive record and questioned whether his tactical approach can withstand the demands of the English top flight. His comments will not sit well with Celtic supporters, who watched the Australian restore pride and success at Parkhead.
He said: (talkSPORT), ”Celtic have no opposition in the Scottish league, so comparing what you have to do in Scotland against what he has to do in the Premier League is completely different.
“We know what he does with his centre-backs – he sends them to the medical room. People’s observation of him is not that he’s one-dimensional, it’s his tactical ineptness that people began to criticise.
“Not the fact that he plays only one way, because we know he doesn’t only play one way because we saw him playing pragmatically when he tried to win the Europa League.”
Jordan’s comments are nothing new. He has frequently used his platform to dismiss the Scottish game and question the value of Celtic’s achievements. His latest criticism ignores the context of Postecoglou’s rapid rebuild and the scale of what he achieved in such a short period.
Celtic fans will rightly point to the way Postecoglou transformed the team after inheriting a broken squad. His success was not simply about winning in Scotland, but about rebuilding belief, bringing in quality players and delivering football that excited the support.
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Motherwell – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – May 14, 2022 Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou and Callum McGregor celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership with the trophy Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington
The Australian has since proved himself on the European stage with Spurs, showing his philosophy can succeed beyond Scotland. His move to Nottingham Forest signals another step in a career defined by proving doubters wrong.
For many in Glasgow, Jordan’s dismissal only underlines a familiar bias against Scottish football. Whatever critics may say, Postecoglou’s Celtic era remains one of the most impactful managerial stints in recent memory, and his legacy at Parkhead is secure.
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