Everything Ange Postecoglou said to the media following Livingston v Celtic...
How do you sum up that performance?
It was good. It was important to get the win but the manner in which we played and stuck to our principles all over the pitch was good and it was the kind of football that we want to play.
Was it important to keep the tempo up and going at them?
It was important. We have spoken about it a lot. We need to be the ones who generate tempo. It is hard sometimes when the opposition sits deeper but as good as were with the ball I thought we were outstanding today without it. We hunted in packs, we won the ball and we didn’t give them a moment’s rest. They are a big side so if you allow balls into the box then it gives them some threat and our defensive work was excellent. Our football when we had the ball was good. We were patient when we needed to be but we could hurt them when we needed to.
Your players showed a sense of purpose and had a real scent in their nostrils today, didn't they?
The players knew it was a challenge today. They went about it the right way and didn’t shy away from it. The boys who came in brought some energy with James (Forrest) and Tom (Rogic), Niro (Nir Bitton) and Tony Ralston these guys have had three games in a week so it was important for us to maintain our energy. We set the right tempo and intent from the first minutes.
Does that give you hope for the season that the guys who came in did well and looked very strong?
It is the reason we have a strong squad and why we brought players in during the January window. It gives us an opportunity to add to the squad and rotate it without losing anything from our performances. It also means our training is at a good level. It is competitive and when people are asked to play they are ready to take their opportunity which is good for us moving forward. If we have the ability to change things during games it will help us.
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You missed a penalty but there was no lack in verve or dip in confidence levels was there?
That has been there from the start. I know people have said we haven’t been exhilarating in terms of our football every game but you cannot question their resilience. When we have had to find something we have found something. The fact we missed the penalty wasn’t going to stop us from continuing and trying to be relentless and playing our football. Credit to them. They are led by Callum but whatever challenges are there, they are ready to take on. It doesn’t always mean that you will be successful but we won’t shy away from it.
Nit Bitton was outstanding today, wasn't he?
He has been playing for us the whole year. I know people sometimes measure 11 players from a starting perspective but I measure them from where they were when I started. He has been great for me. I thought he would be important today because they are a big physical team and he has that ability to dominate the space around him. He did really well. He broke lines and ran with the ball when he needed to.
You must have been reading your tea leaves on Friday when you told us James (Forrest) still had an important to play this season as he produces his first league goal of the season?
He has had a tough time but I see him every day, you guys don’t. That is how I make my assessments and he has worked really hard in training. It is not easy when you don’t get a run of games but the quality he has always been there. I have had to be patient for when I can throw him in because I know he can certainly help us. He is one of the more experienced ones and he can definitely help us. He is a winner, you know. We are going to need those types.
Will that goal give James confidence?
I don’t know if he was lacking in confidence. It lacks a little bit of rhythm and that spark you need when you are an attacking player. He is an experienced guy and he knew what he had to do and he played his role very well. He and Jota really set the tone.
You'll be pleased for Daizen Maeda as he scored an instinctive striker's goal, didn't he?
I get that strikers are measured by goals but what he brings to our team is well beyond that. But it is great for him because strikers also enjoy scoring. His defensive work was outstanding. That really helps us and sets the platform and allows us to launch another attack.
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