Rangers coach Neil Banfield might never get the chance to exact revenge on Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou as Premier League Spurs are linked with the Australian coach.
Incoming Gers assistant Neil Banfield joined the club alongside Michael Beale during the World Cup break last year and claimed some comments from Ange Postecoglou left him with a “little taste in the mouth”.
The ex-Arsenal coach was referring to comments made by the Celtic boss following the League Cup final defeat in February, but he did not reveal which comments specifically.
Banfield also promised revenge on Postecoglou heading into next season, in comments which caused something of a stir back in April.
“I have got to say he has been first-class but he said one or two things that I have remembered and I will remember,” Banfield told the Scottish Mail on Sunday [23/04 print edition, back page].
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“For what he has achieved at Celtic, we say well done. The use of the market has been excellent and I like the way they play. But he said one or two things that make you want to say: ‘Okay, right, we’re coming’.
“And that’s okay, that is what it’s all about. They’ll want to come at us. That’s what top-level managers are all about. That’s the world we live in.
“There’s respect there, no doubt. He is a good football guy and he works for Celtic but he has said things that leave a little taste in the mouth. I’ll keep that to myself but he made a quote after the final and it landed on me. And you think: ‘Yeah, okay I’ll take that.’
“Next time we’ll turn that round.”
Neil Banfield could miss out on Ange Postecoglou revenge
While Postecoglou responded “I don’t care” when asked about the comments, Banfield might never get the chance to exact Rangers’ revenge on the Aussie’s Celtic team.
This is because the Australian is being heavily linked with a move to Spurs ahead of the weekend’s Scottish Cup Final clash between Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Postecoglou hasn’t exactly ruled himself out of the running, with the Times going as far as to call the links and subsequent Tottenham silence a “bad sign” for Parkhead supporters.
There’s a very real chance Postecoglou leaves this summer.
Rangers fans will have one eye on the situation, but will be thoroughly focused on the club’s own rebuild as Michael Beale looks to finally deliver consistent success at Ibrox.
This season’s capitulation has been painful for supporters and, while plenty – Banfield included – would like to see Postecoglou’s Celtic put in their place it appears that ship may be about to sail.
With Rangers getting their act together under Beale, if Postecoglou is offered the Spurs job now and doesn’t jump at it, it might be the one and only time such a prestigious opportunity ever comes up.