Ange Postecoglou got the job done against Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Saturday.
A 2-1 win against League One side ensured advancement to the showpiece final at Hampden Park later this season.
The goal was to get through, but despite accomplishing that goal, injuries forced Callum McGregor and Yosuke Ideguchi to leave the Indodrill Stadium.
Ange Postecoglou spoke exclusively to Celtic TV about the duo’s fitness and the fifth round, which includes a match versus Raith Rovers at Celtic Park.
The Celtic manager said: “Callum is better today. He wasn’t in great shape after the game but I’ve exchanged messages with him and he feels a bit better, which is great.
“Knowing the type of character Callum is, for him to come off was something significant. Hopefully, his recovery doesn’t take too long.
“Yosuke is not great. I think I said after the game it didn’t look too serious but it’s still pretty painful now.
“I was optimistic it wouldn’t be too bad, but as everyone saw in the footage it was a tackle that shouldn’t have happened and should have been addressed on the day.
“It was a terrible tackle and one he hasn’t come of too well and will be missing for a little bit as well.
“The pitch wasn’t great in the last round against Alloa and they’re the type of things you want to avoid. The fact we’re at home in front of our supporters and on our pitch, I think is a good advantage.”
On the plus side, the team put in a strong performance on Saturday, led by Giorgos Giakoumakis, who scored his second goal for the green and white Hoops.
“It was good for him and more important it was good to get 90 minutes,” he said. “He’s had an interrupted first half of the year but he’s worked awfully hard.
“We gave most of the guys a week off in between games but he stayed at Lennoxtown with a few other boys and put in the work.
“He got through the 90 minutes pretty strong and scored his goal, so it’s a good foundation for him.”
