Ange Postecoglou is correct, football lost its heart and soul during Covid season

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The Celtic Star

·12 December 2024

Ange Postecoglou is correct, football lost its heart and soul during Covid season

Ange Postecoglou’s words are a timely reminder of how football lost its heart and soul during Covid season…as Jock Stein once remarked ‘Football without fans is nothing”…

A general view inside the stadium as Harry Paton of Ross County and Diego Laxalt of Celtic battle for the ball during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Ross County at Celtic Park on December 23, 2020. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Ange Postecoglou was unsurprisingly asked about the ‘Ibrox atmosphere’ and how he would be welcomed as his Spurs side get ready to face theRangers in the Europa League tonight.

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Ange gave his thoughts as honest as he usually does, but one part hit home with most football supporters, and that was his point about how football lost something during the covid pandemic.

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Some will see at as a dig at theRangers, and they could be right knowing Ange! But no one can deny that he was absolutely spot on.

Asked if he was relishing walking into the ‘bear pit’ Ange said “I don’t know if it brings out more of me. I’m like everyone else. I like a bit of love now and again, but I do enjoy that!”

Josh Ginnelly of Heart of Midlothian celebrates after scoring their sides third goal in extra time during the William Hill Scottish Cup final match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Hampden Park National Stadium on December 20, 2020 . The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

He went on to say: “What I always kinda reflect on and we’ve all lived it, is that once you experience football in empty stadiums, you realise how meaningless it is. I fell through that whole period. It was meaningless. As much as you go, you could be hostile tomorrow, but that’s what we love about the game.”

Ange went on to say how it’s the supporters that bring the game to life through passions and emotions, something that’s not always positive, but we are after all the lifeblood of the game.

David Turnbull of Celtic scores their sides first goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Ross County at Celtic Park on December 23, 2020. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Football was soulless during the pandemic, whether we’re thinking about Celtic winning a Scottish Cup Final in December at an empty Hampden Park, or St Johnstone winning two cup that season or even theRangers winning their first ever title. The supporters cheered at home, some gathered in the streets, others wrecked benches in George Square and fought with the Police and among themselves. But none of that replaces winning a trophy with your supporters there to celebrate the achievement.

Football was empty that year and thankfully we should never have to experience it again.

Best of luck this evening Ange.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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