When Ange Postecoglou does not like a question, usually from a broadcast journalist, he lets them know in pretty short order, latent hostility to the fore. The one he fielded on Wednesday was always coming.
Tottenham’s season will be on the line on Thursday night when they face AZ Alkmaar at home in the second leg of the Europa League last 16, trailing 1-0 from the first. And after the season Spurs have had, Postecoglou’s second at the club, it is plain that he could really do with a result. So, Ange, win or bust for the season and also for you and your project. How do you feel about that?
Related: ‘We’re all underperforming’: Manchester United’s Amorim agrees with Ratcliffe
“There are not many professions in the world where you have to come in and answer questions like that, is there?” the manager glowered. “No, there isn’t. I am going to be polite and say we’re focused on winning the game and need to put in a better performance than we did last Thursday [in the first leg].”
Postecoglou would immediately bring levity. When the English-speaking TalkSport representative began his question, Postecoglou scrambled for the Uefa-issue interpretation headset and put it on. It was a funny moment, as the reporter acknowledged. “Thank you,” Postecoglou replied. “Let’s keep our sense of humour.”
It was more like the tone Postecoglou wanted to set; relaxed and positive as he seeks the right mindset from his players. He had bemoaned the absence of it during the first leg in the Netherlands when there was no intensity, no intent with or without the ball. Why had it been that way? Postecoglou said he had analysed and reviewed the game but he did not give an answer.
What is clear is that there will be a lot of emotion inside Spurs’ stadium, with the supporters almost permanently on edge these days; a lot of pressure. Postecoglou was not about to run from that. It was standard, he suggested. It can be inspiring.
“There’s always pressure and, yes, it’s a big game but if we’re successful tomorrow night, it’ll be the same in the next round,” Postecoglou said. “When you’re in the later stages of European or any cup competition, you know every game is meaningful because it either means the end of the road or you progress. We need to embrace that.”
Postecoglou reported that Kevin Danso was out with a hamstring problem, the winter-window signing feeling it towards the end of the 2-2 Premier League draw at home against Bournemouth on Sunday. Muscle injuries have been perhaps the emblem of the season, particularly for defenders, and it has taken Danso seven games to succumb. “We will give him every chance to get back, he will be pushing for sure,” Postecoglou said, which did not sound good.
But the injuries are broadly clearing and Postecoglou stands to have his four main leaders – Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario – on the field together for the first time since 19 October and the 4-1 home win against West Ham.
There is no doubt that the persistent fitness issues have provided Postecoglou with a get-out for the club’s underwhelming results, notwithstanding whether those issues are partly down to his high-intensity style of training and playing. Now is the time for the real Spurs to stand up.
“Tomorrow, the real Spurs will be judged just on winning,” Vicario said. “The good Spurs will be just the winning Spurs. We know exactly what the game means. It’s about getting in the best mindset. The best version of Spurs for tomorrow is togetherness from us on the pitch and the fans in the stands. With this mentality we can go through.”
What is the real Spurs under Postecoglou? It is essentially the version that was on show before they started to be worn thin by the injuries – confident, energetic, enterprising. Postecoglou believes absolutely in his approach; he is not for changing, rather reassembling the correct pieces and trying again. Are the answers still there? Or will the mental and physical scars that have built up stymie a revival?
“The manager has been very committed to his approach since day one when he joined,” Vicario said. “He delivered to us the same way to play the game because he truly believes in this. We can be successful in this way and we are fully behind him, fully trying to do the right things. When we are at 100% here in the brain and very, very committed to that I think we showed what we can do.”
Postecoglou always wins a trophy in his second full season at a club. He mentioned that in no uncertain terms in the early running of this one and it is a soundbite that has tracked him in unforgiving fashion. Not that Postecoglou regrets saying what he said. He was simply making a factual statement.
“If it doesn’t happen this year then I cannot say it any more if I’m asked next year. But what was I supposed to say? ‘I’ve always won in the second year everywhere I’ve been … here it won’t happen.’ Is that what people want to hear?
“I’m really comfortable and proud of the fact that everywhere I have been I have won things. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I hadn’t. Whether I win something in my second year here, time will tell.”
