Ange Postecoglou's Celtic battlers all read from same script

It's a popular ditty among the Celtic supporters and usually rains down from the stands during every Hoops game. It was sung again at Hampden Park on Saturday as Ange Postecoglou's side defeated Kilmarnock 2-0 to reach their second successive League Cup final under the Aussie.

The holders are certainly in no mood to relinquish their vice-like grip on the silverware as they edged past the Ayrshire men to book their sixth League Cup showpiece final in seven seasons on Sunday February 26.

Derek McInnes's men made a real fist of it at times but goals from Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis did the trick for Celtic on a day when the national stadium should have been renamed Dampden Park.

This time Postecoglou's men did not put on the kind of show we have come to expect from his charges yet, when all is said and done, the men in green and white always seem to find a way to triumph. It maybe wasn't a box office smash but you can't always perform to the best of your ability all the time. As Postecoglou duly noted afterwards this was a performance full of 'desire, discipline and structure'.

"It is a credit to the boys and this team as it is not always just about the football there is a real desire and willingness there to overcome any challenge and they did that today," the 57-year-old said post-match. "Your ultimate goal is to overcome whatever you need to do out there and this team have consistently done that and that is why we are in this position.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's full reaction to Celtic's 2-0 win over Kilmarnock

"We rarely lose because whatever is thrown at us this group of players as a collective find a way to get the job done. Battling is performance. Performance is giving the best you can under the conditions that are presented to you. There was never any chance that was going to be an open game. It was going to be a game of mistakes, and battles. Credit to this group, they don't shirk away from that either. If they need to roll their sleeves up, they just do it."

The Celtic collective is a powerful force at work, even when it's not firing on all cylinders. Performances don't really matter in the cup semi-finals anyway, results do. It's about being in that showpiece occasion by hook or by crook and, while Postecoglou called into question the state of the Hampden pitch, what certainly cannot be questioned is the state of his side's iron will to win under any circumstances.

Cue Postecoglou again: "When you start the season that's your goal and ambition at this football club. You want to be present when the trophies are handed out to give yourselves an opportunity. That's the great thing. We have given our supporters another trip out here for another cup final and the opportunity to contest another trophy."

Not even having two goals - one apiece for Japanese duo Reo Hatate and Maeda - disallowed by VAR for offside could dampen the Hoops players' spirits. No complaints from the Aussie on that score: "They are offside", was his solemn three-word response.

In fact, every member of the Celtic squad is all reading from the same script even when they are not given top billing. Take Giorgos Giakoumakis for example.

Now if you thought the Greek striker was anything other than totally committed to the Celtic cause despite reports linking him with a move to J1 League side Urawa Red Diamonds then you would be sadly mistaken.

It was Giakoumakis - who admittedly was lucky not to concede a late penalty - that sealed the deal for Postecoglou and his fellow team-mates as he tapped home from close range after David Turnbull's shot had been spilled by Sam Walker in the Kilmarnock goal.

There was no tripping over his bottom lip or sulking for Giakoumakis. You see that's the thing with this Celtic lot. The manager has got the total buy-in from all of his staff at every juncture regardless if you are a regular starter in the team or not.

The one thing that Postecoglou can guarantee is that every performer in the Celtic team will get game time on centre stage at some point. It is up to the individual what they do when the spotlight shines upon them.

Giakoumakis's stab home from close range may well turn out to be the last act of his Celtic career - but what a way to go if that does turn out to be the case.

It was an act of selflessness for his team-mates and the 28-year-old really has to be commended for putting the collective first and not letting his personal issues become a distraction or sideshow or even a negative influence.

What it also showed was that every Celtic player is willing to bust a gut and give every sinew of energy for their manager, for their team-mates, for their club and most importantly for their supporters.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Maeda and Giakoumakis seal League Cup final spot

"You saw the clarity today," Postecoglou pointed out after the game. "If people think he (Giakoumakis) was distracted, his performance says it all. He was totally focused on what was before him today and he will be tomorrow. What is important is what I see every day and I see guys that are committed to this football club, training hard. He always has. His attitude is first-rate yet I kept getting asked questions about him.

"If you look at our second goal it is (James) Forrest to David (Turnbull) to Giakoumakis and that's the three guys I put on. They are not sitting around moping that they are not starting. They understand that for us to be successful then we need a strong squad and whether you start or not the opportunity still exists - whether you play 60 minutes or 30 minutes - to contribute to your team and that is the attitude of the boys.

"It was brilliant for Giako to get his and the three contributors to the second goal is a testament to the attitude of the boys at the moment."

There was even time for some deadpan Aussie humour when Postecoglou was asked if there had been any concrete offers for Giakoumakis.

"If anybody bids in concrete then I will certainly not entertain it," he joked. "There is nothing. There is going to be speculation between now and the end of the window. Michael (Nicholson) deals with the majority of that and if it gets to me we know it's serious but there is nothing that I need to address."

No, Celtic did not put on a vintage show to defeat Kilmarnock by any stretch of the imagination but the Hoops will once again charge along to the national stadium and compete for the first silverware of the season on February 26.

While we're at it here's another popular ditty among the green and white hordes: We're on our way to Hampden, we shall not be moved...

Postecoglou's League Cup holders are most definitely on a mission. It remains to be seen if Celtic shall be moved. There is still a domestic treble at stake after all.