Source: Team_Talk
Strachan piles praise on O'Dea
Full-back O'Dea nodded home Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick in the first half of extra-time to inspire his side's 2-0 Co-operative Insurance Cup final win over Rangers in the first Old Firm cup final for six years.
The outstanding Aiden McGeady won and converted a stoppage-time penalty to add gloss to the scoreline but it was O'Dea's day.
The 22-year-old academy graduate has struggled to make himself part of Strachan's first-team plans and has only played recently due to injuries.
"I couldn't be more pleased," Strachan said. "If anyone deserved something today...
"Because he's had disappointments. He wanted to go on loan, just to be a better player and come back and be a better player for us.
"But I thought we were going to need him between then and the end of the season.
"He was disappointed but didn't let his disappointment affect himself or the squad.
"And it's great when you see young men getting their rewards like that.
"It's great that the two guys who scored today came through the academy, which is good. That's a bonus for us."
Strachan added of McGeady: "He played as a striker in the first half. Then he went wide because we knew he still had plenty of energy in him. That's what he's got - he's got fantastic energy.
"You could see the pitch wasn't conducive to running, but he got it right today."
Although Celtic were the better side, Strachan insisted the major difference between them and Rangers was the opening goal.
He said: "That makes a difference because I thought both sides were up for it.
"Great spirit, both sides.
"The first goal makes a big difference but I liked our composure after we scored the first goal.
"We didn't panic when there was a bit of pressure on us. I thought we made more chances after that because we were composed."
Scott Brown won the official man of the match award but Strachan refused to single anyone out.
He said: "I wouldn't like to say. I thought we had some really good performances, really good performances. Everybody can be pleased with their performance, I think."
Both sides fielded unfamiliar line-ups and formations but Strachan played down the significance of playing Gary Caldwell in midfield and leaving Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras on the bench.
He said: "You have to make decisions as a manager. Sometimes you make good ones; sometimes you make bad ones. But it worked out all right today.
"I could've gone with Jan and I'm sure we'd have still won; I could've gone with Sammy and Marc Crosas, but I explained to them what we were going to try to do and they were good about it.
"They didn't let their disappointment affect the squad in any way."
Despondent Rangers boss Walter Smith insisted the game could have gone either way.
He said: "I think everybody agreed it would be a tight affair - it was.
"There wasn't a great deal in terms of creation overall, not many clear-cut opportunities for either set of strikers.
"Any opportunities that were going to come were going to come from shots from outside the box.
"As the game goes on, obviously a little bit of tiredness comes in.
"It looked as though a set play would be the type of goal that would settle it and, unfortunately, we lost it."
