STEVEN GERRARD is free to talk more openly since leaving the Ibrox bubble, so when asked about the Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, he had nothing but praise for the Australian.
The manager was speaking as Villa are in Australia for pre-season.
It took Gerrard three seasons, a pandemic and football fans being locked out of the stadium to win his one and only trophy in Scotland.
In comparison it took Ange one season to come into the SPFL, change the majority of the playing squad and win a League and Cup double – in front of supporters.
Gerrard moved to Aston Villa half way through Ange’s season, some might say he saw the writing on the wall.
Speaking to Fox Sports, the former Ibrox manager praised the Celtic manager: “Ange did fantastically well. He came in with his own style. It took a little bit of time for him to implement that but once the players got used to that, they went on to win the league title and the League Cup as well, so it was a very successful season for him.
“He’s someone who I’ve got a lot of respect for and a lot of admiration for, and he’s done ever so well, so credit to him. He’s obviously got big experience. He’s had a lot of success throughout his career, and he comes across as a very humble guy.
“Obviously I’m Rangers through and through. I want Rangers to do well. I’m sure he appreciates that but from coach to coach, he’s someone that I’ve got a lot of respect for.”
The Ange revolution came at a time when people were predicting two or three years of dominance for the Ibrox club. Celtic were in such a state after the pandemic season, the situation looked irretrievable.
The resurgence served to prove the pandemic season and no fans really disadvantaged Celtic while it gave Rangers confidence not playing in front of a demanding support.
Celtic and their supporters go hand in hand. The pandemic season will always have an asterisk over for every league in the world that played during lockdown. Glorified training games with no heart or soul.
We go into the new season with a lot of confidence and with a side who look to build on last season’s success.
