After his side’s 2-0 defeat by Man City on Tuesday night, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was quick to criticise the ‘fragile foundations’ at the north London club.
The pre-match discourse was dictated by the title run-in – with Spurs fans knowing that if they drew or beat City, bitter rivals Arsenal would likely end their 20-year wait to lift the Premier League.
Postecoglou was adamant that ‘100 per cent of supporters’ wanted to beat City but, in reality, a large portion of the fanbase went into the match hoping their side would lose, which irked the Australian.
The Spurs boss was even seen in an heated exchange with one supporter sat behind the dugout, as tensions began to boil over between the manager and fans.
Here, Mail Sport offers the perspective of two Tottenham fans after the Australian’s outburst.
Ange Postecoglou criticised the ‘fragile foundations’ at Tottenham after losing to Man City
James Cohen
Personally, I think it’s understandable that a portion of Spurs supporters wanted to lose the match, given Arsenal’s search for a first league title in two decades.
However, if you don’t want to win a game of football due to outside circumstances, no matter how bizarre they may be, you’re not Ange Postecoglou’s kind of person.
But that’s exactly the kind of man Spurs need at the helm.
It should not be forgotten that Postecoglou is used to winning. From Brisbane Roar to Yokohama F. Marinos and, later, Celtic, success has followed him everywhere.
Tottenham’s ongoing search for silverware – which has been since their League Cup triumph in 2008 – was also the main reason as to why the Australian was brought in.
Therefore, the notion that Spurs fans should want their team to lose any match, even to spite their bitter rivals, is a foreign one to Postecoglou.
During the 2-0 defeat, he was seen arguing with a home supporter who had supposedly been shouting for Spurs to throw the match.
The Spurs boss was involved in a heated exchange with one supporter during the match
Postecoglou, rightly, should not stand for supporters cheering on the opposition with some home fans having been seen spotted doing the Poznan after Man City scored on Tuesday
Had this been Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the Spurs dugout, one can imagine that they’d be similarly bemused. Because that’s a winner’s mentality.
Neither the Liverpool or City boss – at any point during their respective projects – would stand for home fans cheering on the opposition. Just like Postecoglou won’t.
For example, cast your mind back to March, 2018. We were brutally dumped out the Champions League last-16 after a comeback victory from Juventus.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini came out afterwards with the infamous jibe: ‘It’s the history of Tottenham. We believe in history’.
The Italians knew we would crumble. They knew they could comeback. And, most importantly, they knew that we didn’t have a winners’ mentality.
Even the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte ended up failing to redefine the expectations at the club. It’s proved a nearly impossible task.
But, with all that in mind, Postecoglou’s outburst seems far more justified. There simply must be a mentality shift – both inside and outside the club.
And, is there really any question as to whether the Australian has the capabilities to do so? Just look at how he started life in north London.
He picked up the Manager of the Month award three times on the bounce after a tremendous start, before his side’s form was derailed by injuries and suspensions.
Postecoglou is right to be seeking a mentality shift both inside and outside of the club
However, perceptions for what were possible shifted. Spurs went from written off – after Harry Kane’s sale – to potential title contenders in a matter of months.
After a bleak few months in the summer – which saw fan’s protesting over the club’s ownership – Postecoglou resolved the disharmony at the club in a heartbeat.
And, even though a lot of us may find ourselves disheartened again, there’s every reason to believe that Postecoglou can turn it around.
His attitude since arriving in north London should tell Spurs fans everything we need to know about how he sees our project and it’s certainly one we should buy into.
Josh Hughes
Ange Postecoglou had every right to be furious after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Man City. It was Tottenham’s fifth defeat their last six games, almost certain condemnation to Thursday night football and a 10th game in a row where Tottenham have conceded.
Perhaps more concerning than the results, has been the drop off in Spurs’ performances. ‘I feel like we’ve lost a bit of belief and conviction in our football and that is on me to change that’ – the Australian told Sky Sports after the defeat to Chelsea on May 2nd – a far-cry from his attitude after the team’s 4-1 defeat to the Blues in November.
I was one of the thousands who applauded the team off that day, full of admiration for our crazy, fast-paced style of play and our desire to ‘have a go’ against one of our most bitter rivals with nine men.
Postecoglou was like an enigma during his first few months at Spurs – what he said was gospel. Ask any Tottenham supporter and they will admit they never expected the form to last.
Even in moments of joy, there has always been an air of cynicism amongst our fanbase – a sense of ‘we’ve been here before’ – and the skepticism has only grown stronger as the performances have become weaker.
Tottenham fans bought into Postecoglou’s methods and applauded the team for the belief in his style of play despite the 4-1 defeat to London rivals Chelsea back in November
The drop off in performances has been concerning amid a run of five defeats in six matches
Perhaps there is a lack of belief amongst the players, perhaps this is also true of some sections of the fanbase, but we were told this was a project – and it will take time to bear fruit.
Going into the Man City game, top four was still mathematically possible – but to many – we’d already blown the chance – the hope had gone at St James’ Park. Even with a slim chance, a win against the champions would have left Spurs relying on Aston Villa to lose at Crystal Palace.
If Tottenham’s failure to qualify for the Champions League is the consequence of Arsenal missing out on the title – then I like many fans – are more than happy to take it. As one Arsenal fan pointed out to me – ‘it’s not like you have a choice – it’s Man City’ – and he was right.
It’s not entirely clear who Ange was specifically digging out in his post-match press conference, but it certainly did come across as a cheap shot at the fans, Perhaps expecting to fail is part of the problem, but that won’t change overnight.
Since Spurs last won a trophy (in 2008), we’ve lost three Carabao Cup finals, four FA Cup semi-finals and a Champions League final. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy appointed ‘win-now’ managers in Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte and failed to supply them with ‘win-now’ players, Mauricio Pochettino went 500 days without a signing.
Spurs fans have every reason to be skeptical – but their desire to see success at this football club is the last thing that should be questioned, and for that Ange overstepped the mark.
His team’s woeful form put us into this predicament in the first place (wanting to lose the game).
Rather than finding ourselves 3-0 down at half-time to soft, avoidable goals against Arsenal, the team should have approached the game like they did against Pep Guardiola’s side – with heart, passion and intensity.
Postecoglou was wrong if he was questioning fans desire to see success brought to the club
The rivalry with Arsenal does matter to fans, so a desire to stop the Gunners was understandable
Our exits at the first opportunity in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup meant another season without silverware and Postecoglou’s failure to remember the last time we won a trophy in his pre-match press conference was telling.
I’ve watched other teams climb the hallowed Wembley steps, I was in Madrid for the Champions League final. Those memories stick with you.
There’s always been this feeling that Spurs never quite kick on – but under Ange Postecoglou there is still plenty of belief amongst fans and fifth place would be an admirable place to start – even if the team is crawling over the line.
Most recognise this, and are proud of the team’s efforts this season, proud to be back in Europe again – having sold and failed to replace the best striker in the world in Harry Kane.
Ange Postecoglou is at Tottenham to get results and there’s something to be admired about his unwavering values, his confidence in his ability to turn this club around and take it to the promised land.
He’s done it everywhere he’s been, with the same doubts and questions being asked of him at every juncture. He thrives in this environment, but Tottenham is unlike any club he’s managed before – and to supporters the rivalry with Arsenal DOES matter.
Surely deep down, he understands this.
