Ange Postecoglou adamant Celtic weren’t fortunate to beat Aberdeen

Celtic skipper Callum McGregor was in the right place at the right time to secure Ange Postecoglou’s team a valuable three points.

Ange Postecoglou didn’t think his side was lucky to beat Aberdeen. Picture: Lukas Schulze/Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou has scoffed at suggestions his Celtic side needed luck to beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Parkhead.

Celtic’s win moved them back to within four points of Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers, who had beaten Livingston 3-1 on Sunday night.

The Hoops led 1-0 through a 20th minute Jota goal before Aberdeen equalised 13 minutes later via a Lewis Ferguson penalty.

However, Celtic restored their lead on the hour mark when an attempted clearance from Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes hit Hoops captain Callum McGregor, with the ball rolling into the back of the net.

Former Socceroos boss Postecoglou said the winning goal came as a result of Celtic’s dominance in attack, with the Hoops having come close to scoring on a host of other occasions.

🎙️ Jota 𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 after three points, another goal and a #DafabetMOTM performance! 👌#cinchPrem | #CELABE | #COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/sPCTX9O24O

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 28, 2021

“If you put yourself in those situations often enough … a couple were cleared off the line, we hit the post,” Postecoglou said.

“Is that unlucky? I don’t know. At the end, I think it was deserved.”

“I don’t think we were just grinding today. We were still bright in areas.

“Aberdeen were well organised and we had to find creative ways to break them down.

“It’s not easy when the opposition sits so deep. It wasn’t a game that was going to be open and entertaining, but it’s important you get these victories.

“People talk about the attack but we are relentless defensively, from Kyogo (Furuhashi) at the front to the boys at the back and in midfield. We work hard.

“Getting rewards that way, there is nothing wrong with that.”

Celtic’s Socceroos playmaker Tom Rogic again didn’t play because of a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for several weeks.

However, Postecoglou said Rogic would “definitely be available” for Celtic’s home clash against Hearts on Friday morning (AEDT).

It’s a busy period for the Hoops, who are also in action late on Sunday night away against Dundee United.

“It’s a heavy schedule and we don’t want our level of performance to drop,” Postecoglou told Celtic TV.

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou adamant Celtic weren’t fortunate to beat Aberdeen