Ange Postecoglou admits his players are RIGHT to question his plan to attack Man City with a depleted squad… but insists his philosophy will ‘bridge the gap’ to success
- Ange Postecoglou has mocked claims his side could be on the back foot against Manchester City
- The Australian also revealed his desire to 'make Tottenham a big club'
- Big Ange has lost three in a row, but there's a good chance he'll change his style: It all starts
Ange Postecoglou admitted on Friday that his players are right to have doubts about taking on Manchester City in their own match with their depleted group, but that Tottenham will never park the bus under him.
Postecoglou scoffed at suggestions he could go defensive at the Etihad on Sunday, despite it being the blueprint that helped Spurs win five of their last seven Premier League meetings with Pep Guardiola's City.
This will be the ultimate test of Postecoglou's philosophy, and while Tottenham could put together an XI from the players who are currently unavailable and have lost their last three games, they will be on the attack.
“There is a reason I am here and the reason is because the end game is not to beat City,” the Spurs boss said. “If that's the end game, it's done. It's not why I'm here.
'I'm not trying to build a team that can beat Manchester City. I'm trying to build a team to be successful. I'm sure the players are thinking: “Is this really going to work against Man City?” And those are valid questions to ask.
Ange Postecoglou has admitted his players are 'justified' to question his plans to play attacking football against Man City
The Spurs boss scoffed at suggestions they could sit back against the Treble winners during their trip to the Etihad on Sunday.
'My role is to show them that this is still the way forward for us as a group if we ever want to bridge that gap to become a successful side. I don't feel like this is a point where I'm losing people.
Pep Guardiola has lost more games against Tottenham in the Premier League than any other opponent
'Even internally, people will always continue to ask those questions. “Can you do this?” “Can you continue playing this way?” “Does it work or doesn't it work?” When I lay my head down at night, I just believe in it.
'The next day I wake up with the idea that I have a strong feeling about it. Maybe I'll end up in a heap, buddy. I don't know, because there are no guarantees. But my gut tells me I won't. I enjoy it.'
That includes Guardiola, who said: 'Absolutely not' when asked if Spurs would get defensive.
'It would be a surprise. I met him in the 2019 pre-season when we played against Yokohama. I've seen some of their games before and I said, “Wow, there's stuff I like.”
'I've been following him ever since. Even in the games they haven't won lately, in a relatively short space of time I've been impressed with how well they do a lot of things – how many chances they create, how aggressive they are in all departments. He came here and within a few months you recognize his team perfectly.
Pep Guardiola has also admitted it would be a surprise to see Tottenham play defensively
“He makes football a better place because I'm a spectator too and I really enjoy watching them with the approach they have. All Spurs fans and people in England can admit that the impact has been significant.”
It was July 2019 when Postecoglou's Yokohama Marinos faced Guardiola's City in a friendly match between the two City Football Group clubs. Yokohama finished with 58 percent possession.
But with Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison and Pape Sarr among those sidelined, it will be difficult to repeat the trick.
Postecoglou added: “You could back down, say we have injuries, say we are playing Man City, but you either become a club trying to fend off the big clubs or you are a big club. You are one or the other.
'My hope and ambition for this club is to make it a great club.'