TOMMY WRIGHT watched Barcelona rip Tottenham Hotspur apart in the Champions League in midweek – and was reminded why St Johnstone must tread cautiously against Celtic today.
Teams are often asked why they do not have more of a go when they come up against the Hoops, why they gift them possession and sit back to defend.
But Wright reckons the ease with which Barca cut their way through Spurs was a prime example of why others decide to take a different approach in a bid to pull off upsets.
“Everybody asks after a defeat against Celtic or Rangers: ‘Why didn’t you press the life out of them?’,” said Wright.
“I’m not comparing Celtic to Barcelona and us to Spurs but, watching that game, Tottenham tried to press the life out of Barcelona – and still conceded four goals.
“You could argue if they sat deeper, with the players they have, they could have countered on Barca. But they didn’t, they played a way Mauricio Pochettino thought that was the best way to go.
“But Barcelona were very comfortable in possession. Sometimes, when you’re up against teams that have better players than you, you’ve got to find a way.
“There’s not many teams go toe-to-toe with Celtic and come out on top.
“It’s easy for people to say: ‘You’ve got to have a go’, but every manager sets up his team to win a game.
“If you’re set up with a slightly more-defensive mindset, it doesn’t mean you’re chucking away three points or not desperate to win the game.
“We are desperate to win, and we’ll hopefully find a way to do that.”
When he leads his team out against Celtic, Wright will surpass the total of 197 top-flight games set at the club by legendary former St Johnstone – and Scotland – manager Willie Ormond in the late 1960s and early ’70s.
It is a milestone the modest 55-year-old admits will give him a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ll have been here for seven years in November,” added Wright. “I’m proud I’ve been at this club for that length of time, and hopefully I’ll be here a lot longer.
“It’s nice that I’m going to have managed the team for more games than somebody as successful and as famous as Willie Ormond – he’s got a stand named after him!
“He was a great manager, and it will be something I’ll look back on with satisfaction.”
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