Ange Postecoglou’s bold pre-season trophy comment has come back to haunt him.
The Tottenham manager declared that he tends to win trophies in his second season.
During a Wednesday press conference, Postecoglou was questioned about his now-infamous comment, given Spurs’ trophy hopes now hinge on their last-16 Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar.
The Australian’s side are 1-0 down after a disappointing first leg in Holland.
“I wasn’t making anything up. I was asked the question, and I answered it,” Postecoglou explained.
“Critics have used it for their own purposes, suggesting I’m making a bold claim, but I was stating a fact.
“Usually in my second season, I win things.
“That’s the whole idea. The first year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going to win things.”
He acknowledged the difficulty of achieving this in the highly competitive Premier League but maintained his belief that the second year should be a period of pushing forward.
However, Tottenham languishing in 13th after an underwhelming season has put his words under intense scrutiny.
“If that doesn’t happen this year, then I can’t say that anymore. What am I supposed to say? I’ve always won in the second year; I have in the past, everywhere I’ve been, but here (at Tottenham) it won’t happen,” he said.
“Is that what people want to hear? People can twist these things, use them, and you know what, maybe we defy all the odds and we do win something.
Ange Postecoglou – Honours in second season
Brisbane Roar (A League – Championship ) – 2011/12
Celtic (Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup & Scottish League Cup) – 2022/23
“People will say, wasn’t it great he made such a bold claim; people just use it the way they want to depending on the circumstances. I will always answer things the way I feel.”
Postecoglou‘s impressive track record, including consecutive Scottish Premiership titles and League Cups at Celtic, along with his FIFA World Coach of the Year nomination, underscores his winning pedigree.
His arrival at Tottenham in the summer of 2023, on a four-year contract, began with a promising unbeaten run. However, his future is now under considerable pressure.
Thursday’s Europa League clash against AZ is crucial in Tottenham’s quest to end their 17-year trophy drought.
The team’s recent 1-0 away loss in the first leg, marked by a lackluster attacking display, has amplified the stakes.
Despite a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, where Tottenham rallied from a 2-0 deficit, the Cherries’ attacking threat raised concerns.
Perry Groves believes anything other than progression to the quarter-finals could sound the death knell for Postecoglou.
“This is going to be the biggest game of his (Postecoglou’s) career on Thursday here against AZ because his job rests on that game,” Groves said on talkSPORT.
“If they go out and don’t win that game, he gets the sack, and it might be at the end of the season.
“But there will be no future for him if they don’t win that game and win the Europa League.”
