ANY Celtic fans who tuned into Alexandro Bernabei’s impressive debut for the club in rural Austria last night were no doubt excited by what they saw during his 45 minute runout, but manager Ange Postecoglou has moved to temper expectations as the 21-year-old settles into his new surroundings.
That’s not to say that the Celtic manager is not also eager to see what the former Lanus left-back can add to the team going forward. He has been impressed by him in the short time they have worked together, and has been particularly happy with the way he has taken instructions on board and settled into the team’s style of play.
If he can maintain that desire to improve and the hunger he clearly has to succeed at the club, Postecoglou is certain Bernabei will go on to be an important addition to his squad. All the signs so far, and pointing to such an outcome.
“He has come in and it has been a massive change for him,” Postecoglou said.
“We are not putting too high an expectation. It is about understanding the environment, getting to know the boys and the way they play.
“He has got a great attitude and already you can see that. He has taken on a lot of information and that is a key sign for us. For him it is good to get that first game under his belt.
“Like all the players we bring in he has good energy, is ambitious and he wants to carve out a career for himself in Europe.
“He has some good attributes which we look at for his profile and position. Then it comes down to how they adapt here, their attitude and everything has been excellent so far.”
Bernabei was the second ‘new’ recruit signed up this summer, with goalkeeper Ben Siegrist coming in and last season’s loan players Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Daizen Maeda making their moves to the club permanent.
Postecoglou isn’t finished in the transfer market there, even though he is delighted with the business the club have backed him to do so early in the window.
“It has been good so far,” he said. “It has been pretty well chronicled that 12 months ago it was chaotic.
“In January and now we are working in a way that we know what we are after. We identify targets and then make sure we take the time to get the ones we want, so that is had been good.
“It was very pleasing to get Jota and Cam on board permanently. They were massive contributors last season and we think there is more in them. To get them on-board is great and with Alexandro and Benjy coming in that helps with the quality across the board.
“We are definitely looking to bring in one or two more before the window closes. Again it is about identifying what we want and making sure they fit all aspects and we working towards that.”
For all that Postecoglou is looking to strengthen, it is something of a bloated squad that has made its way over here to Austria, illustrated by the quality of player he was able to put out in last night’s friendly against cannon fodder Wiener Viktoria.
Postecoglou admits that some of those players may not be at the club for very much longer, but that will be down to them, with the manager not too concerned about carrying a crowded dressing room given the rigours of the season that lies ahead.
“It’s a big squad, and we’re going to need a big squad,” he said.
“We’ll probably play 60 games this year, and with the World Cup break it’s going to be a pretty congested schedule either side of it.
“So, we’re going to need a strong squad, but in terms of players departing it’s no different to last year.
“I’m pretty comfortable with it, that will all take care of itself. The ones who see their futures elsewhere or are looking for opportunities elsewhere, if that comes along it comes along.
“At the moment, whoever is I the squad, I treat them as if they are going to stay in the squad, unless they say otherwise.”
Postecoglou has been delighted with the start to his side’s pre-season preparations, which has been serene compared to the chaos of last summer.
“They have all been very kind,” he said. “You come to these places and you understand it is a thrill for them and they want to host you well, so it has been good.
“We’ve settled in well. We had a week or so at Lennoxtown - mainly the boys who played tonight - because the international boys came back late.
“It has been good we have settled in well with a good couple of sessions, yesterday and this morning with the other group.
“It was the first steps.”
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