Ange Postecoglou is predominantly a straight shooter, but sometimes he gets up to a bit of mischief to throw his opponents off their game.
We have watched every minute of every press conference the manager has taken part in this season and while he offers a no nonsense approach, he’s not always forthcoming with information he believes would help the opposition.
When it comes to injury comebacks, the manager tends to keep his cards close to his chest. The Australian plays down comebacks and tried to give as little away as possible. Sometimes it will be because he genuinely isn’t sure but there are other times when he will have a good idea of what’s happening but still keeps people guessing.
The manager likes a bit of misdirection.
If you don’t think so, you just have to look at the pre-match Glasgow Derby press conference when he sent all of us away believing Kyogo would at least be on the bench for Ibrox and had us asking the question – could he even start against our Glasgow rivals.
Fast forward to the derby and Kyogo was nowhere to be seen. He let us and the media focus on the Japanese striker and let our opponents know they might have to come up against him, only for the wee man not to make an appearance. It was a brilliant bit of misdirection, or mind games, if you will.
It’s why we might not find out if Giakoumakis and Turnbull will or will not be included in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. Unless either injury is severely long term.
