Ange Postecoglou fumes in post-match interview with reporter after being asked a Tricks question after Spurs 1-0 defeat
Ange Postecoglou’s frustration was palpable when questioned by a reporter about whether Tottenham Hotspur could challenge for silverware this season. The Spurs manager, known for his directness, was visibly irritated when pressed on the topic following his team’s 1-0 defeat at home to arch-rivals Arsenal in the 196th North London Derby.
The game was decided by a single goal from Arsenal defender Gabriel, continuing the Gunners’ recent dominance in this fierce fixture. The result left Spurs fans frustrated, as their team once again fell short in a high-stakes encounter against their bitter rivals.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Postecoglou was asked whether he could replicate his previous success, where he often won major trophies in his second season at the clubs he’s managed. The Australian coach responded with a firm but visibly irritated tone, clearly unimpressed with the repetitive line of questioning.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Postecoglou responded, cutting the journalist off. “Am I going to answer the question, or are you going to keep asking it?” He followed up sarcastically, “No, absolutely. I’ll correct myself. I don’t usually win things; I always win things in my second year.” His confidence was evident, as he emphasized, “Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”
The Tottenham boss also addressed criticism of his team’s poor defensive record from set-pieces, an area where his side has been scrutinized. Despite conceding from a set-piece against Arsenal, Postecoglou dismissed the concerns with characteristic defiance. “I know, I know, for some reason people think I don’t care about set-pieces, and it’s a narrative that you can keep going on for ages and ages,” he said. He assured that his coaching staff and players do work on these aspects, but admitted that lapses happen. “For the most part, we handled them really well today, but we switched off for one, and we paid the price. You learn from that and move on.”
For Postecoglou, the key takeaway is focusing on the bigger picture and progressing the team’s style of football. “It is what it is. It’s my burden to carry, mate, and I’m happy to do that. There’s a bigger picture at play here, more important than the finer details of set-pieces or any criticism we face. For us, it’s about turning the football we’re playing now into something meaningful.”
Looking at his managerial history, Postecoglou’s defiance is backed by his track record of success in his second seasons. During his time at Celtic, he didn’t win any silverware in his debut season in 2020/21, but in the following campaign, he led the team to a Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish League Cup. Similarly, in Japan, he took charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in 2017 and led them to their first J League title in 15 years by 2019. His achievements with the Australian national team are also noteworthy, having guided them to an Asian Cup triumph in 2015, just two years after taking the managerial reins.
Postecoglou’s track record proves that he’s more than capable of delivering success after a period of adjustment, and his belief in his project at Tottenham remains unshaken despite early setbacks. However, with pressure mounting after a tough derby defeat, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see if the Australian can turn promise into tangible results at Spurs, a club with a long-standing trophy drought that has lasted over a decade.