- Ange Postecoglou calls the Man City game his ‘worst experience as a manager’
- Tottenham travel to Sheffield United on Sunday needing a point to secure fifth
- IAN LADYMAN: If I was a Spurs fan, I’d be worried about the way Ange Postecoglou is carrying himself – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Ange Postecoglou revealed Tottenham’s game against Manchester City was his ‘worst experience as a manager’ over concerns about his integrity.
He also admitted that he misjudged the feelings of the Spurs fanbase in the run-up to the game, with some fans seeking a deliberate defeat to hamper Arsenal‘s chances of Premier League glory.
Postecoglou was speaking ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Sheffield United on Sunday, where Spurs must pick up at least a point to ensure they finish the season in fifth, and cannot be caught by Chelsea.
On the issue of Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat, Postecoglou said: ‘I got a real anxiety within me of…what if we play as well as we can & they beat us 5-0? I’d hate to think…of people questioning if I’d prepared the team.’
He also said he misjudged Tottenham fans, but reiterates that he does not understand why they would not want their own side to win, even if it has knock-on consequences.
Ange Postecoglou said Spurs’ game against Man City was his ‘worst experience as a manager’
Giovani Lo Celso ‘got a knock on his knee’, and could miss Tottenham’s trip to Sheffield United
Postecoglou said: ‘I hold my hand up, I got it wrong. I was here the day before the game and I sort of mocked the whole thing…’
On Tuesday, he used a false nine system, which came under fire, but Postecoglou told reporters: ‘There’s a misconception about me that I’ve got one plan. I’ve probably used every formation and system going over the years, usually many in a game.’
He admits he has not ironed out all of Tuesday night’s issues yet, with just two days passing since the defeat, but has committed himself to the future of Tottenham, saying: ‘We’ve got some work to do. It’s clear and evident and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.’
When pressed on whether this week’s furore had made him more focused to turn Tottenham into winners, he replied: ‘No mate, I’ve been determined from day one, nothing’s changed. I haven’t been deterred, if that’s what people are worried about.
‘When you accept the role, you accept the challenge of that role. Nothing that has happened in the last two weeks has changed my view on how we go about that.
‘I also believe you have to know where you’re at. There’s no point kidding yourself that you’re somewhere you’re not, because then you can’t improve.’
Elsewhere, he confirmed Giovani Lo Celso is a doubt for Tottenham’s last game of the season after ‘a knock on his knee’.
The Spurs boss confirmed on X (formerly Twitter): ‘The only one that’s a bit of a doubt is Gio Lo Celso. He got a knock on his knee, he didn’t train today but we’ll see in training tomorrow.
‘[We have few sore bodies but nothing that will make any changes to the personnel from the other night [against Man City], so it’ll likely be a similar squad for Sunday’s game.’
Tottenham travel to Sheffield United on the final day, with the Blades already relegated from the Premier League.
Tuesday night’s defeat to Man City left Spurs unable to qualify for the Champions League.
They are three points clear of Chelsea in sixth, but with a worse goal difference, so a point is required to ensure they finish fifth and reach next season’s Europa League.
More to follow…
