Manchester City game was my worst experience in football, says Ange Postecoglou
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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou believes much more work needs to be done to instill a winning mentality at a club that have not won a trophy since the League Cup in 2008.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said he suffered cold sweats before the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on May 14, for fear of having his integrity questioned.
The build-up to the game was dominated by talk of Spurs fans wanting their team to lose in order to put a huge dent in arch-rivals Arsenal’s English Premier League title hopes.
Had Tottenham won, the Gunners would be able to seal the title with a victory against Everton on May 19. But now City – who are two points ahead of Arsenal – will clinch it if they beat West Ham United.
Some Tottenham supporters may have enjoyed the way it has turned out but not Postecoglou.
He was emotional after the loss and caused a stir when he appeared to criticise the home fans and suggested he was “out of step” with their feelings about Arsenal.
The Australian, who was involved in an angry exchange with a supporter behind the Tottenham bench during the match, also spoke of the club’s “fragile foundations”.
After the dust settled, Postecoglou was again asked about that match ahead of Spurs’ final game of the season at relegated Sheffield United on May 19, when a draw will ensure they end the campaign in fifth spot.
“I will try to explain it this way, that is probably the worst experience I’ve had as a football manager because I realised that I got it wrong in terms of what the atmosphere was going to be like and what people felt,” he said.
“I got a real anxiety within me of what happens if Man City, who are disposing teams quite easily in the lead-up and scored 15 to 16 goals in the last four games... what if we play as well as we can but they beat us 5-0?
“I got in cold sweats thinking about people questioning my integrity (to lose on purpose).”
The 58-year-old had said after the City defeat that he “will never understand if someone wants their own team to lose”.
Reflecting on that, he added that he believes much more work needs to be done to instil a winning mentality at a club that have not won a trophy since the League Cup in 2008.
“You can’t be successful if your motivations change. You’ve got to want to win all the time,” Postecoglou insisted.
“Supporters are there to back their club and do their bit.
“It wasn’t just Spurs supporters. Everyone I heard said they understand how the fans feel. Well I don’t understand. I just can’t think of anything worse than not going all in on victory every time you’re out there.” REUTERS, AFP
