The Celtic revolution is over but the evolution has just begun

"I just want to thank everyone involved from the board and management, I have the best staff in the land. An unbelievable effort.

"I've got a group of players who have been unbelievable, champions of Scotland and well deserved. And for you, the best fans on the planet, unbelievable. You've embraced me, embraced my family, embraced this jumper.

"I want everyone to enjoy today, enjoy the summer and we'll come back bigger and better, because we never stop!"

The words of Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou on trophy presentation day last season after his side had dismantled Motherwell 6-0 at Parkhead in the final match of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

At face value, the cynics would argue the speech was some kind of glib rallying of the troops and playing to the gallery as Celtic wrestled the title back from Rangers in fine style after their botched attempt at 10-in-a-row.

READ MORE: Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is merely laying the foundations for his 'beautiful house' - the best is yet to come

But Postecoglou meant every word of it. Woe betides those who weren't listening.

He had won a Scottish Premiership and League Cup double in his maiden season. It was a quite magnificent achievement after he hauled the Hoops off the canvas to go toe-to-toe with a Rangers team who made it all the way through to a European final.

Yet, in that trophy presentation moment, the Aussie was already seeing the bigger picture. He was signposting what he wanted his men to achieve the following season. A double? Let's go one bigger and better than that. How about the treble?

He was plotting Rangers' downfall again in that instant and firing warning shots across the bow. Many scoffed at the possibility that Postecoglou could lead Celtic to an unprecedented eighth treble - their fifth in seven seasons. No club on planet football has ever reeled off eight domestic clean sweeps. This was merely the beginning of Postecoglou's revolution. In fact, it was the beginning of Celtic's evolution.

Remember the building of the beautiful house and all that.

12 months ago when Celtic lost at Hampden to Rangers at the Scottish Cup semi-final stage, the defeat denied the 57-year-old a crack at winning the lot.

That loss stung but there was redemption at the national stadium last Sunday at the same stage against the same rivals courtesy of double-denim Jota's 'Brazen Headed' winning goal.

Yet it was the manner of victory that pleased Postecoglou. It was conclusive proof that his Celtic team had evolved.

It wasn't quite a backs-to-the-wall performance but in the second half Celtic did more defending than they normally would. The difference is they coped with everything last season's beaten Europa League finalists could throw at them. That particular context is important for Postecoglou...very important.

Postecoglou said: "The whole group had to dig in. Twelve months ago when we lost here it was another tight game. I thought last year Rangers were a very good team and they had that resilience in them and that's why they got to a European final.

"They did what they needed to do to get the job done on the day. That has been our evolution as a team this season. We have developed and it is not easy to develop like that in that given time.

"You need to be put in that situation as often as possible. When you get to these big games with consequences you have to do what is required and that is what we did today and we have been doing that all year. It is where the team is at in terms of their progression. They understand that in the big games they need to show every facet of your game and we did that today."

You see where he is coming from now. If Celtic can produce that kind of stellar defensive performance against Rangers then what's stopping them from doing it far and wide - in the Champions League group stages for instance.

After all, it was Postecoglou who namechecked the fact that Rangers resilience was rewarded on the continent with a Europa League final appearance. Celtic have been domestically rampant and dominant since he took up the managerial cudgels. However, the Champions League last year was a different story entirely. It's the one area for the Aussie where the box remains unticked.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou will set Celtic target on Champions League last-16

Celtic's record last season in the Champions League group stages was: Played six, won none, drew two, lost four. Goals for: four. Goals against: 15. Two points out of a possible 18. You can cut Postecoglou's men some slack as they did come up against the holders Real Madrid as well as lavish spending German side RB Leipzig.

Many of the players were experiencing the rarefied atmosphere of Champions League group-stage football for the first time in their careers. It is an unforgiving environment yet Celtic earned plaudits. Although the patronising tone of some of those compliments would have sickened the manager no end. It's points not plaudits Celtic want when the Scottish champions return to the competition proper in a few months.

I have stated many times that there are no bigger challenges in football than turning Celtic into a European power again. An entity that not only competes and claims big scalps on the biggest stage of all - but one that can enjoy extended runs to the latter stages of European competition.

Why can't Celtic be a force both domestically and in Europe? Postecoglou certainly believes they can do both. It's all part of the legacy/dynasty that he craves to create at the club. They have taken enormous strides in the 21 months the manager has been at the helm.

The Aussie has nailed it when it comes to recruitment with help from the Celtic collective - the board, the players and the fans - he has united them all and that unity has got the club back to where it feels it rightfully belongs. History beckons next month and only Inverness Caledonian Thistle stand between Celtic and the chance to achieve what Postecoglou has deemed acknowledges is something profound.

READ MORE: Celtic’s Real Madrid loss reinforces how much Postecoglou has won hearts and minds - Tony Haggerty

He said: "The club needs to trust my judgement in that and I need to trust the club is going to make the right decision.

“It’s not foolproof, we all make mistakes, but for the most part we have been very successful in identifying the right kind of people to our football club. For me that is all a manager can ask for, that support and I’ve had that.

“With that comes great responsibility. It keeps me up at night! I don’t want to get things wrong because when you take that responsibility on to yourself you need to make sure you are always doing the right thing by the football club. That is what I have tried to do. We have made enormous progress in the last 20-odd months, it is incredible to see where we have come from and where we are now.

“We haven’t done the job yet but we have an opportunity in the next month to do something special. When people reflect on what has happened in the last two years they will truly understand what a fantastic and enormous effort it has been from everyone.

"To me, that is the only way you can measure what you are doing, by progress. Twelve months after last year’s semi-final are we a better side than we were last year? Absolutely. We need to be a better side in 12 months time if we want to be in this kind of position to challenge for honours."

Domestically, if Celtic continue to get bigger and better because they never stop then that's enough to keep every form of opposition, certainly at home, 'up at night'.

Celtic has proved to be a great fit for Postecoglou rather like the Aussie's now-famous and sadly departed jumper. He's desperately keen for him and his men to try it on for size in Europe to see how much the team have progressed.

The evolution of Celtic will be televised.