Prior to his team’s fixture against Manchester City, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was asked by a reporter if he would stick to his gung-ho style of play against the defending Premier League champions.
“If you had to take a punt, what do you reckon I’d say?” Postecoglou responded.
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The Tottenham boss elaborated and stated if you want to win, you must have a plan and “stick to it and believe in it.”
It was a fair question from the reporter given Tottenham are ravaged by injuries and went into the City clash on the back of three consecutive losses.
Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou stuck to his word and implored his players to take the game to the hosts.
Tottenham rode their luck in the first half and were fortunate not to be completely out of the contest as the score read 2-1 to City courtesy of a Heung-Min Son own goal and Phil Foden.
Postecoglou implored his troops to show more “conviction” in the second half and that message, coupled with the introduction of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, proved pivotal.
The players heeded the message as Giovani Lo Celso and Dejan Kulusevski scored either side of a late Jack Grealish goal to secure a point.
Not only did the draw continue City’s wretched run of form against Tottenham — they have won just twice in their last eight Premier League encounters — but it proved Postecoglou’s unwavering tactical approach was the right call.
“A defeat here would have been a fourth in a row for Postecoglou but, despite the circumstances, despite the mitigation he could have turned to, that others would have turned to, he did not change,” The Telegraph’s Jason Burt wrote.
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“Not a bit. And with that fortune favoured the brave.
“The Premier League, and not just Spurs, is lucky to have him.
“This is what football is all about. This is why we love the game. Pep Guardiola will not change either and more power to the pair of them.”
Burt added: “He was never going to abandon ultimate gain for short-term damage limitation because what message would that send to the club and the players? No, it is his way or no way.”
The fact Tottenham were even able to come away with something from the contest had The Guardian’s Barney Ronay believing the result “will have felt like a kind of victory in itself.”
“This was a breezy, while at times deeply confusing, game of football; but a game that will, above all, have felt like a kind of vindication for Ange Postecoglou,” Ronay wrote.
“Tottenham Hotspur really, really shouldn’t have been able to come away from this injury-ravaged trip to the champions of Europe with a point, certainly not after falling behind twice; and even more certainly not after playing in the first half like a team intent on walking the opposition backwards into their own goal.
“And yes, the points were shared from a 3-3 draw that could, with better Manchester City finishing, have gone the other way quite dramatically.
“But the performance will stand as the most satisfying moment of Postecoglou’s time as Tottenham manager to date; and as confirmation in spirit, discipline and the boldness of his tactics, that something really is stirring here.”
‘Shocking call!’: City ROBBED of winner? | 00:40
Former England international Chris Sutton also threw his support behind Postecoglou for his willingness to stick to his guns.
“All the jabs from pundits and commentators about Tottenham and their naive brand of football … everyone is entitled to their opinion but it’s refreshing someone going up against Manchester City and showing some balls and belief,” Sutton wrote on X.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was another who voiced his backing for the Tottenham manager.
He also believed the fact the players were able to complete the late comeback against a team of City’s might could be a pivotal moment that reinforces belief in players that Postecoglou’s methods work, if they aren’t already convinced.
“Ange Postecoglou deserves credit, and not just today,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“The run they’ve been on, they’ve been very unlucky.
“I think Spurs have always been a top team in terms of trying to challenge for top four. I don’t think Spurs are going to be in any sort of title race or anything like that.
‘Belief in ourselves’ Spurs bounce back | 00:58
“The important thing is the manager said before the game that people were going to question their set-up today. It’s not about today, this is about the long-term in the next two or three years to make Spurs the real deal.
“He’s not going to change anything, he’s trying to instil something within the club. He got the payback in the second half.
“Son said the manager told them to play even more. They were a lot better in the second half.”
Postecoglou is set to be handed a major boost ahead of Friday’s clash against West Ham United as centre back Cristian Romero returns from suspension.
Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr could also return to the squad by the end of the week, while Richarlison got some much-needed game time late in the clash against City.
Although a number of players are slowly returning, Postecoglou is not completely out of the storm just yet as the likes of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven remain sidelined until the new year.
Until then, Postecoglou will charge head on through the rough waters because, as Tottenham’s recent stretch of games has shown, it’s all he knows.
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