Ange Postecoglou admitted on Friday his players are right to question taking on Manchester City at their own game with their depleted group, but that under him Tottenham will never park the bus.
Postecoglou scoffed at suggestions he could go defensive at the Etihad on Sunday, despite that being the blueprint which helped Spurs win five of their last seven Premier League meetings with Pep Guardiola’s City.
This is set to be the ultimate test of Postecoglou’s philosophy, and though Tottenham could construct an XI out of their players currently unavailable and have lost their last three games, they will go on the attack.
‘There’s a reason I’m sitting here and the reason is the end game is not to beat City,’ the Spurs boss said. ‘If that’s the end game, that’s been done. It’s not why I’m here.
‘I’m not trying to set up a team to beat Manchester City. I’m trying to set up a team to be successful. I’m sure the players are thinking, “Is this really going to work against Man City?” And those are justifiable questions that they need to ask.
Ange Postecoglou has admitted that his players are ‘justified’ to question his plans to play attacking football against Man City
The Spurs boss scoffed at suggestions that they could sit back against the Treble winners during their trip to the Etihad on Sunday
‘My role is to show them this is still the way forward for us as a group if we’re ever going to bridge that gap to being a successful side. I don’t feel like it’s at a point where I’m losing people.
Pep Guardiola has lost more games in the Premier League against Tottenham than any other opponent
‘Even internally people will always ask those questions. “Can you do this?” “Are you able to continue playing this way?” “Is it working or is it not working?” When I lay my head at night, I just believe in it.
‘I get up the next day thinking I feel strongly about it. Maybe I’ll end up in a heap, mate. I don’t know, because there are no guarantees. But my gut tells me that I won’t. I enjoy it.’
So does Guardiola, who said: ‘Absolutely not’ when asked if Spurs would become defensive.
‘It would be a surprise. I met him in pre-season in 2019 when we played Yokohama. I saw some of their games before and I said, “Wow, there are things that I like”.
‘I’ve followed him ever since. In a relatively short time, even the games they didn’t win lately, I’m impressed with how well they do many things — how many chances they create, how aggressive they are in all departments. He came here and in a few months you recognise perfectly his team.
Pep Guardiola has also admitted that it would be a surprise to see Tottenham play defensively
‘He makes football a better place because I’m also a spectator and I enjoy watching them a lot with the approach they have. All Spurs fans and people in England can admit the impact has been big.’
It was July 2019 when Postecoglou’s Yokohama Marinos faced Guardiola’s City in a friendly between the two City Football Group clubs. Yokohama finished with 58 per cent possession.
But with Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison and Pape Sarr among those sidelined, it will be tough to repeat the trick.
Postecoglou added: ‘You could shy away, say we have injuries, say we’re playing Man City away, but you’re either going to be a club that tries to knock off the big clubs or you are a big club. You are one or the other.
‘My hope and my ambition for this club is to make it a big club.’
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