Pundit defends Ange Postecoglou after Joe Hart’s Celtic comments – ‘that’s a mistake’
Ange Postecoglou is not to blame for Celtic conceding a soft goal against RB Leipzig.
That’s according to former Rangers and Scotland boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Joe Hart’s most recent performance.
As shown on BT Sport (5 October), just after RB Leipzig had their second goal disallowed, a mistake from the 35-year-old gave the ball away to Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Celts went on to lose the game 3-1.
Speaking after the game, as quoted by BT Sport, Hart said, “I’m at fault for the second goal but that’s the way the manager wants us to play”.
McLeish insists Postecoglou’s tactics are not to blame for Hart’s error.
“Joe made that pass out, that’s the way every manager wants to play now,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Ben Wild.
“Goalkeepers have to be perfect and he wasn’t on that occasion. You would call it a mistake. That’s a mistake.
“It was a mistake in judgement in execution. Postecoglou is not the only guy who wants goalkeepers to play out from the back.
“With Joe, he lost his place when Guardiola came into Manchester City because he didn’t think he could play out from the back.
“Goalkeepers have to be good footballers nowadays because that is how the manager wants you to play.“
Hart has been Postecoglou’s nailed-on number one since he arrived from Spurs in the summer of 2021.
On 21 June, Celtic confirmed the signing of shot-stopper Benjamin Siegrist from Dundee United on a four-year deal.
In other news, Celtic have opened “huge” new contract talks after a Premier League club approach.