Chris Sutton has insisted that those inside Celtic Park should focus on their own affairs just like his side did all those years ago.
Sutton arrived in Glasgow under newly appointed Martin O’Neill while large sums of money where being spent elsewhere.
He did arrive at the club however with some other big names as Celtic also invested in the squad with some new additions.
“Celtic fans fondly remember the summer of 2000 fondly. Presumably because that’s when I arrived. There were others too with Alan Thompson and Joos Valgaeren, Didier Agathe and Rab Douglas, followed by Neil Lennon a few months later as Martin O’Neill’s era got under way. People forget what Rangers did that summer. They spent absolute fortunes,” said Chris Sutton speaking in the Daily Record.
Celtic have already added to the squad with the most noticeable signings being Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota who both arrived for a fee of around £6 million each.
Sutton believes it’s all about what Celtic do in the market and backs Ange Postecoglou to make the right calls as he has plenty of credit in the bank to do so.
“It’s the way it was and we couldn’t get hung up about who was going there. We had our own task in hand and I’m sure that’s how Postecoglou will be approaching it at Parkhead.
“He’s certainly earned the trust of the club and supporters in the transfer market. I’m surprised some people are underwhelmed about the arrival of Aaron Mooy. He’s not some kind of project player with potential. He’s a solid professional with a more than decent CV.
“Mooy couldn’t really be classed as a defensive midfielder but he does play in a deeper role these days and I would think he’d be an ideal back up for Callum McGregor.
“He could even play alongside the captain in certain games, perhaps in Europe. Moritz Jenz is a bit of an unknown but there wasn’t much wrong with the first choice partnership of Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers last season.”
With pre-season now over attentions will turn towards Sunday’s league opener against Aberdeen on flag day and the former English Premier League winner isn’t hung up about the Hoops friendly results.
“I know there’s been some supporters concerned about some of the defensive displays in pre-season but I wouldn’t get too worked up about it just yet.
“Yes, they’ve conceded more goals than they would have liked, but you have to be careful not to jump to conclusions in these games.
“If you look at it, most of the goals against have come when there’s been a ton of substitutions made, and the matches got a bit disjointed.
“There was some impressive attacking play against Blackburn and Legia Warsaw and I know what it’s like to be involved in these bounce games. It’s hard to really care.”
Celtic blew many people away last season as a team that weren’t given a chance. The group has strong character and a belief in one another that helped make them successful last season going on to win the league and league cup.
It’s all about keeping that strong togetherness and unity and going forward as one.
“But when I was at Celtic I didn’t look at the guys on the other side of the tunnel. I looked alongside me and say guys like Henrik, Paul Lambert, Johan Mjallby and all the other, and I always felt we were a right good side and I fancied our chances regardless of the opposition.
“It’s that tunnel vision that’s required at Celtic again this season.”
