Humza Yousaf on Ange Postecoglou, title parties & support for Celtic
The First Minister chatted exclusively to Clyde 1 Superscoreboard
Humza Yousaf joked about stepping in to prevent Ange Postecoglou qutting as Celtic manager and praised the impact the Australian has had on the side, in an exclusive chat with Clyde 1 Superscoreboard about his passion for football.
The First Minister also addressed the controversy around the title-winning celebrations by Celtic supporters in Glasgow on Saturday night which seriously injured one person and left two others needing hospital treatment, as well as a massive clean-up effort to reopen roads around Trongate.
"Gutted" if Ange leaves
Addressing speculation that Ange Postecoglou is the preferred candidate for the vancant manager's job at Tottenham Hostspur target he said: "There are some powers I have as First Minister, and I've just asked my entire team to see if there's anything within my First Ministerial powers to stop Ange from leaving Celtic, if those rumours are true.
"Of course, there's nothing I can do", he added hastily, in case anybody thought he wasn't joking.
"I'd been gutted if he did leave I think he's been a real revelation. Not just as manager and his tactics but also the players he's brought in. I don't think those players would have come to the Scottish Premiership if he hadn't brought them. I think they've been an absolute revelation for Celtic."
Plan better for title parties
The First Minister also admitted there was a failure to plan ahead for disruption caused by fan title celebrations in Glasgow on Saturday night.
"These clubs are major institutions in our cities. Can we get them working with our local councils to potentially facilitate celebrations. Because we know they're going to happen. Usually we've got an idea in advance there could be - in the case of cups - when that will be. Can we facilitate something? But I do think the clubs could do a little bit more.
"Let's plan out next year. We don't know who will win the league next year, but it if's one of the Glasgow clubs can we get the local authority sitting down with the clubs so we don't necessarily see a repeat of the scenes we've had in the past."
Celtic fan
He also spoke about his passion for football, and its importance to him as a means of escaping the pressures of the top job in Scottish politics.
"Football's given me a lot in life, even before I was First Minister. It might not surprise you that when I was Health Secretary, and in other jobs, I've had quite a fair bit of stress and I think football is a great outlet.
"For 90 minutes when you either playing or watching you're thinking of nothing else.
"Some folk think that every decision you make is through the lens of being a Celtic fan, and that's just of course not true. And frankly if I commented on football, or indeed fans, every day then I wouldn't be commenting on much else."
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