Rangers v Tottenham: Can Postecoglou rediscover old comforts in Glasgow?

Postecoglou was regularly pressed for the high-energy, high-risk, low-commitment style he implemented, but said he would “never move an inch, man,” in the way he saw the game.

Celtic took two points from 18 in the Champions League that season.

Domestic dominance was the safety net that overcame European failure. Spurs don’t have as much freedom in the brutal terrain of the Premier League.

Celtic have evolved somewhat since Postecoglou’s departure and have adopted a style of play that works better on the unforgiving pitches of Europe.

But Postecoglou’s return will have some fans wondering what would have happened if he had never received an offer to go south.

Would he have altered his natural instincts for the greater good, as Rodgers did, or would Celtic still be trying to go toe-to-toe with all comers, as they did during his tenure, with poor results?

The answer can probably be found in what we’re seeing in the rise and fall of Spurs: good enough to put Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United to the sword, but also soft enough to drop goals and points at the end. a list of parties that had control.

As much as Celtic fans loved having him, it is probably now accepted that they needed to lose him to progress in Europe, the true proving ground for a team that has Scottish football firmly secured.

Because it’s Postecoglou and because it’s Rangers, half of Glasgow will be white on Thursday. They will always appreciate and support him, but in the new world Celtic seem to be moving into, the days of mourning him are over.