McLeish can’t believe what he’s heard about Celtic after world-beating reveal
Alex McLeish has told critics to “give Ange Postecoglou a break” at Celtic after the team emerged as Europe’s passing kings.
The former Rangers boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Bhoys are “on the right road” after a rocky start to the season.
As detailed in a study carried out by the CIES Football Observatory (29 November), Celtic have moved the ball more (12.8km per match) and made more passes (735) per match than any other club in world football’s top 40 leagues this season.
The Hoops’ passing stats are comparable to European giants Ajax, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Barcelona.
With the Bhoys the joint-top scorers in the Premiership, McLeish suggested fans will buy into Postecoglou’s style, despite their points tally.
“That’s one hell of a statistic,” McLeish told Football Insider deputy editor Russell Edge.
“Sometimes there’s a lot of square passing, I don’t know how much of that is going on. I know that in terms of points, maybe you have to give Postecoglou a break in terms of the start that they made.
“They’re behind in terms of points compared to where they were last year but by all accounts, it seems that they’re on the right road. The way that Celtic fans would like to see their team playing.
“If there’s a lot of square passing, the fans will get bored of that.
“But if it’s really attacking stuff, they’re keeping the ball, going forward and making chances, then the fans will buy into that.”
Celtic sit four points behind table-toppers Rangers in the Premiership title race.
They have three points less than they had after 13 games last season.
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