Ange Postecoglou ‘excited’ as Tom Rogic scores contender for goal of the season

Ange Postecoglou says ‘put down your phones, stop eating and drinking’ and ‘just watch’ Celtic’s Socceroos star Tom Rogic.

Tom Rogic scored a contender for goal of the season in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Dundee United. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou hailed Tom Rogic as “one of those players” after the Socceroos star scored a contender for goal of the season in Celtic’s emphatic 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over Dundee United.

Rogic’s 19th-minute goal set the tone for Celtic’s win at Tannadice, with the second-placed Hoops restoring the gap between them and leaders Rangers to four points.

Gaining possession inside United’s half and close to the sideline, Rogic embarked on a weaving run into the penalty area, getting the better of four players before unleashing with a left-footed strike that was too good for goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.

“Tommy’s goal is what Tommy’s all about,” thrilled Celtic boss Postecoglou said.

“Tom’s just one of those players. When he gets the ball, put down your phones, stop eating and drinking, just watch, because something will happen.

“It’s probably the one area where he’s probably let himself down a little bit this year – just finishing off his good work.

“It was a super goal … great run, great composure, apart from his great feet, he’s such a strong guy you can’t knock him off the ball and he had the composure to finish today, so it was great.”

📁 @Tom_Rogic
└ 📁 Wonder goals
└ 📁 Dundee United (A)#DUFCCEL | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG 🍀

pic.twitter.com/DF4lfj9uTy

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 5, 2021

Former Socceroos boss Postecoglou said watching Rogic play “excited” him.

“I hope he loves working with me. I hope they all do. Maybe love is a strong word, but I hope they enjoy what we do on a daily basis,” Postecoglou said.

“For me, with all footballers, it’s about helping them be the best they can be and get the best out of their careers.

“Tommy is one of those guys I take great pride in working with and seeing him develop.”

David Turnbull and Liam Scales also scored in what Postecoglou described as a “good performance from start to finish”.

“I thought we started the game very well, we were very dominant and went right to the end,” he said.

“We scored three really nice goals and could have had more than that, but overall, it’s not an easy trip for us as they are a good side.

“They don’t concede a lot of goals, particularly here at (their) home, so I thought it was a good performance.”

The Hoops are back in action on Friday morning (AEDT) when they host Spanish club Real Betis in a Europa League Group G match.

Regardless of the result, Celtic can’t reach the knockout stages of the Europa League but will continue their continental journey early next year in the Europa Conference League.