Ange Postecoglou remarked that winning the title with Celtic had taken every ounce out of him.
He, more than anyone, is entitled to a holiday period in the next few weeks. He deserves it. And so does his family.
When you look at where the football club was last summer to where it is now, it has been quite a remarkable transformation.
Ange brought calmness and focus. He never lost his way, and even when the season didn’t get off to the best of starts, he didn’t panic. That was vital.
Whether he goes back to Australia, stays in Scotland or heads to somewhere else in Europe to get some sun, he will not completely switch off.
His phone will be ringing, and his emails will be pinging. The plotting for next season will have already started.
Like his team on the park, it will be relentless off it in the next few weeks.
Ange will know where he needs to improve, and if his recruitment is as good as it has been in the past 11 months, the squad will be in magnificent shape come August.
With guaranteed access to the Champions League, he will know what his budget is, and that’s a great position to be in.
It’s so much better than waiting until the last few days in the August window to know the kind of player you can pursue.
But having significant funds doesn’t mean you will be successful. Nor does it mean that you have to spend every penny.
However, it should give you a better chance of being successful.
The main focus for Celtic will be retaining the Premiership title. Ange will demand that from his players, and it will be up to Callum McGregor and Co to deliver.
Right now, you’d have to fancy my former club to win the title again.
But it’s so, so tight between Celtic and Rangers. There is very little between both teams, as the last three Old Firm games have shown.
Rangers may well also have financial riches to come their way if they win the Europa League on Wednesday night.
That will make it all the more interesting, for sure. But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men need to deliver.
If they don’t, Celtic would likely have a significant financial advantage. Having that kind of power may lead to them being way out in front.
It all makes for an interesting summer, and hopefully it leads to a tight title race.
The past few years haven’t gone down to the wire, so we’d all like to see that.
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