Ange Postecoglou has stressed that the chance to join the treble-winning Celtic managers is far too important to allow talk of his future to disturb his focus on Saturday’s Scottish Cup final.
Beating cinch Championship side Inverness at Hampden will give Postecoglou’s team a clean sweep of domestic trophies and make it five out of six available since he arrived from Yokohama F Marinos in Japan in June 2021.
But much of the build-up to the game has been dominated by increased speculation over Postecoglou’s future amid reports the former Australia head coach is Tottenham’s preferred managerial candidate.
The 57-year-old said: “Somebody else was favourite last week, wasn’t he? So, it doesn’t register.
“I get all the interest and why people love to speculate on these things. But we have worked really, really hard to get ourselves into this position and, for me to let my mind wander about anything else than getting our team prepared for a big day on Saturday, is just not who I am.”
Postecoglou has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs this season including Leeds, Everton, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Chelsea so he feels no need to address his players on the matter.
“The players have been really good at focusing on what’s important. What’s important is being ready for a big game on Saturday.”
The former Australia head coach is relishing the experience of Scottish Cup final day, after losing to eventual winners Rangers in last year’s semi-finals.
Postecoglou is well aware of the history between the two finalists. Inverness have beaten Celtic in three of their seven Scottish Cup meetings.
“It’s a cautionary tale, put it that way,” Postecoglou said. “I want it to have a different ending this time.”
Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi is “bullish” about his chances of making the Scottish Cup final despite not training so far this week.
The Japan international went off with a leg knock during last Saturday’s 5-0 win over Aberdeen after coming off worse in a 50-50 with Dons goalkeeper Kelle Roos.
The 28-year-old has scored 33 goals this season and won a clean sweep of Scotland’s player of the year awards, and he has an impressive record in cup finals, with match-winning doubles in the League Cup in each of his two seasons with Celtic.
Postecoglou said: “The plan is to get him out there tomorrow (Friday) and see how he goes. We will be guided by him a little bit. He is very strong mentally so if he gives us the green light we will put him in there.”
The only definite absentee is Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy, who has been nursing a back problem in recent weeks.
Source: AAP
