ANGE POSTECOGLOU says he is more than capable of dealing with the pressure that comes with being Celtic manager, and that he isn’t going to fall apart when he comes in for criticism.

Postecoglou slapped down suggestions during the week that Celtic’s Champions League exit to FC Midtjylland was ‘catastrophic’, as he reacted to his first major on-field setback as manager of the club.

But he says he is fully aware of the passion of the Celtic supporters, and when asked whether he understood he was now in an environment where every defeat will be treated like a disaster, Postecoglou said: “That’s OK, I’m glad people are taking care of my sensibilities and thinking I’m this fragile little petal that’s going to fall apart.

“I’ve grown up in the big, bad world of football and I understand it. I think people have every right to show that emotion. I’m passionate about the game and I love people being passionate about it because I know that passion goes both ways.

“People talk about the special atmosphere at Celtic Park, and I’ve already felt it. If you want that, you can only get it if people care. You can’t have people care then expect them to react well if things don’t go well.

“We had a disappointing night. I expect there to be blowback and criticism from that, and people disappointed.

“You know what, as soon as we turn it around I think we will be equally the same amount of support and love that the club needs and this group of players deserves. I’ve got no issue with that. Other people seem to be more affected by how that’s going to affect me.

“I had a very hard father who didn’t give me kisses and cuddles and told me he loved me. I had to earn these things along the way.”