Tottenham Boss Ange Postecoglou Responds: ‘Are You Not Entertained? What More Do You Want?’
For neutrals, they are the most exhilarating team in the Premier League, but many of their own supporters would willingly trade some excitement for a higher position in the league standings.
Tottenham Hotspur has transformed unpredictability into an art form under Ange Postecoglou this season, and the Australian manager remains steadfast despite facing criticism for his tactical strategy.
In a thrilling 4-3 victory on Wednesday, Spurs eliminated Manchester United to advance to a Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, with Postecoglou expressing confidence in his style of play.
Ange Postecoglou isn’t budging on Tottenham’s playing style
The results of Postecoglou’s tactics would leave most Premier League managers exasperated. Averaging nearly six shots on target per game, they outperform every other team in the league. While currently positioned mid-table, they boast a better goal difference than all but the top two teams, and only Chelsea has netted more goals.
Their offensive strength comes with the downside of being vulnerable defensively. Postecoglou’s approach is a high-risk, high-reward strategy, and he has been defending his philosophy amidst growing criticism.
“Are you not entertained?” he asked Sky Sports following 90 captivating minutes against Manchester United. “What is it that you desire? A scrappy 1-0? I understand that the studio may be having a meltdown over my supposed lack of tactics, but I genuinely love the fact that we go out there and challenge the opposition.
“Regarding the mentality of the players, I appreciate it. I have a passion for football and enjoy watching teams that aim to entertain.
“Of course, we aspire to be successful too, and we won’t achieve that if we complicate matters for ourselves as we did tonight. Yet, when weighing everything, considering we had ten first-team players unavailable, I keep reiterating that point, and I’m not sure it has resonated with everyone, but that’s fine.”
Postecoglou himself proves to be quite entertaining. Typically, managers in the Premier League lean towards pragmatism, and those who prioritize attractive football at the potential risk of results often find themselves in trouble eventually.
However, this is not always the case. Postecoglou is confident he has the necessary players to make it work, especially when Spurs are back to full strength, and some of their impressive victories this season suggest he may be onto something.
This weekend, Spurs will take the field against league leaders Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their final Premier League match before Christmas.
