‘I hate to think’ – Postecoglou opens up on his NLD dressing room worry
Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham have prepared for the North London Derby like they do any other game, insisting that they are only thinking about taking all three points.
Postecoglou is facing criticism at Tottenham
Even though we are just three games into the season and Tottenham’s performances have generally been good so far, it feels like some knives are already being sharpened for Postecoglou, with people waiting to pounce on the Australian.
That perhaps comes from the fact that the Lilywhites really struggled in the latter part of last season, but the Spurs boss rejected claims that he is feeling any additional pressure.
He told VAVEL ahead of Sunday’s game: “I don’t feel any more pressure. I want to win every game. It doesn’t change anything.”
Postecoglou insisted that while he understands the importance of the North London Derby, the team’s preparation will be no different as he wants Spurs to go into every game desperate to win.
When asked if some of his players would be even keener to perform well in a game of this magnitude, he responded: “I hate to think, I really would hate to think there are players in the dressing room who want to win this game more than any others or prepare differently or try harder in this game than any other. Because that’s not the way forward.
“We understand the significance of it, because, if we do win, our supporters will be over the moon. I understand that. If we don’t win, they are going to be devastated. If we prepare this game differently than any other, then I’m disappointed because I want to win every time.
“That’s the only way you can be successful. I make no apologies for that. I’m not going to prepare any different for this game than I did against Newcastle or I will against Coventry.
“I want to win all the time and I want our club to win all the time. If you beat your rivals in a big derby game, then everyone gets excited and everyone feels great. But I want more than that. It’s not what I am after.”
Postecoglou says Spurs fans are free to do what they want
However, the Tottenham head coach acknowledged that the fans feel differently about this rivalry and that this game means more to the supporters than any other.
He added: “I have said a million times – fans can feel the way they want to. It’s their club. They can be as happy, as disenchanted, as optimistic or as pessimistic as they want. My role is to try and give them a team that gives them hope, belief and joy. That’s it.
“But I am not going to tell them how to feel. If they want to win this game more than any other game, then good on them. But it’s not me; it’s not who I am.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Whatever one thinks about Ange’s system and whether the Australian can be successful at this level, one has to appreciate the belief and the confidence he has in his methods.
He is never one to play down expectations and is not shy of putting more pressure on himself and the side by announcing his ambitions.
That shows more of a winning mentality than anything Mourinho and Conte ever did while they were at Spurs, with both managers always making excuses and playing down expectations, even though some supporters insist that they are ‘winners’.
The post ‘I hate to think’ – Postecoglou opens up on his NLD dressing room worry appeared first on The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.