Ange Postecoglpu has insisted that this weekends fixture against Hearts will be very different as he looks for instant bounceback for opening day Tynecastle defeat.
As quoted by the Glasgow Times, the 55-year old has insisted that his side has improved since the opening day defeat, and the Hoops home advantage in front of a full house crowd could play a part.
“It will be different,” Postececoglou said. “Cup games, by their nature, are different. They tend to have more of an edge; knowing the result is so crucial.
“We’re at home in front of a big crowd again, which will be great, and I think we’ve improved since last time.
“It was a good game at Tynecastle, and we were competitive for long spells. We weren’t really threatening Hearts enough, and they did a good job of shutting us down. Our job is to turn the possession into more of a threat this time.
“I don’t put down markers because sometimes they can be false in a positive and negative sense. I just want us to keep developing. I wasn’t too distraught [after losing at Tynecastle]; even in the Midtjylland games, we were well in those matches.
“But we know there’s still a long way to go because we can be successful. We’re on a good trajectory.
“That day I think Carl had hardly had a session, Kyogo was only with us at the hotel, and a couple of the other boys had not had a great pre-season, so yeah, we are a bit further down the track, and our football has improved a little bit.
“But that’s not to say it is going to be any easier a game for us or a game where we can just naturally dominate. We’ve got to work hard.
“Hearts are a good side, and it will be a good challenge for us.”
Losing to Hearts in the opening fixture was a massive disappointment and was far from the ideal start to the season.
However, since that game, the squad as a whole has certainly improved. Add in to that the additions made; we look to be in a better shape than going into Tynecastle.
Ange might not say so, but you would imagine his squad will be looking to try and make up for that performance with a good result on Sunday.
Fingers crossed, we can keep up the displays we have seen in recent weeks at Celtic Park.
