Ange Postecoglou insists he’s the Celtic manager who rails against revenge, hate and spite

Ange Postecoglou gets it. He just doesn’t need it.

He’s immersed himself in a football-mad city where a rivalry exists that can become all-consuming if it’s allowed to. And he knows that tens of thousands on either side of the divide do allow it to. That much was proved again on Sunday when 50,000 converged on Hampden with the only guarantee that half would leave walking on air as the other half trudged home with lead in their boots and an ache in their hearts.

Naturally, the Celtic manager was thrilled his side had come out on top to extend their stranglehold on success in Scottish football. The fact that made life more miserable for Rangers was an added bonus for the green and white side of Glasgow. But Postecoglou is adamant he isn’t overly fussed about that aspect of the Viaplay Cup Final victory. For him, it’s all about making Celtic as good as they can be. And since the sixth game of last season, they have been well-nigh untouchable in Scotland.

Maintaining and extending that dominance is what he gets up for in the morning. Not rubbing the other lot’s noses in it – even if some of the noises coming out of Ibrox in the run-up to the showpiece could have been a motivation for the manager and players had they allowed them to penetrate their dressing-room walls. He understands that but it doesn’t mean he has to buy into it.

“I get it,” said Postecoglou. “I don’t think it’s unique to this city but there is a real fixation on you have to hate and you have to want revenge and you have to be vindictive. It just doesn’t get my juices going.

“I get so much more excited by beating teams I think are really good and are managed by managers I respect who are on the top of their game. That is what gets me going.

“I don’t