There have been a number of times during Tottenham Hotspurs’ 2023/24 season when it felt like a defining moment for manager Ange Postecoglou was underway
Right from the start of the match, the home fans exploded with joy when Dejan Kulusevski scored the winning goal to complete a remarkable comeback against Sheffield United
Then came Cristian Romero’s red card against Chelsea, turning a 1-0 score into a 1-4 defeat
Aston Villa’s defeat in March looked disastrous until an equally heavy 3-0 defeat at Fulham the following week erased the progress made from that victory
However, although these moments may seem important at the time, there is one moment that will outlast them all; Postecoglou’s reaction after the loss to Manchester City
As he entered the media room at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the penultimate press conference of the season, the Australian coach appeared extremely pessimistic
It wasn’t the performance that dampened his mood, it was the excellent performance against one of the strongest teams in the tournament, no, Postecoglou couldn’t believe that so many home fans had urged their opponents to win in order to win
They eased their bitter rival Arsenal to win the championship
“The foundations were really shaky,” the Australian said of the build-up to the match, which centered on the desire to lose Spurs fans
“The last 48 hours have shown me that
It’s in the club, out of the club
Outside, inside, everywhere
It’s an interesting exercise
These are just my observations, man
When asked about Spurs fans praising Arsenal after Manchester City’s goal, Postecoglou replied: “I don’t care, man
I don’t care
Maybe I’m falling behind, but I’m not care, I just want to win
I want to succeed at this football club, that’s why I was recruited
So what other people do, what they want to feel and what their priorities are, I don’t care at all
“I know what’s important to building a winning team – that’s what I need to focus on
” There was considerable sympathy for his views after the game, although much of that sympathy came from voices outside the club
Closer to us is former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp, who completely agrees with the Australian coach
“It’s not easy to listen to what’s going on and everyone wonders whether Spurs will win the game or not,” he said live on television after Postecoglou’s comments were broadcast
“But they already have the Champions League, if they win today and win on Sunday there will be a chance to play the Champions League at this club
“People are more interested in stopping Arsenal winning the title and that’s the mentality and I agree with him [Postecoglou] 100%
This is a culture that has been formed for a long time at this club
I’ve been here, I’ve never felt like it was a winning mentality
You can’t always win, but sometimes you can make sure you try
But the point overlooked by both men is that there was an incredibly specific context which determined the Spurs fans wanting a Manchester City victory.
The game, coming as it did so close to the season’s end, was definitive in Arsenal either winning the league or not.
If the Citizens had dropped points against Tottenham Hotspurs the club’s biggest rivals would be in poll position for the crown. That’s why they were subdued.
Last season, when the club faced City in February 2023 at a crucial but not definitive moment of the previous campaign, they supported their side as vociferously as ever.
This is what Postecoglou failed to recognize when he said pregame: “I was part of one of the biggest rivalries in the world in the last couple of years with Celtic and Rangers, and I understand the rivalry, but I’ve never and will never understand if someone wants their own team to lose.”
Understanding the Old Firm rivalry would be knowing that Celtic fans would probably be even more self-sabotaging were the same set of circumstances to arise involving Rangers.
As a Spurs fan who supported City explained in the dialy mail after the game, the Australian’s mistake was to interpret the reaction to that one game with specific context as some sort of broader theme.
“In criticizing the fans’ mentality after the game he suggested we don’t want to watch a winning team,” the supporter wrote.
“It showed that he doesn’t appear to understand the fanbase and what the rivalry with Arsenal means – a rare misstep from someone who has spoken so eloquently throughout the season.
“His rhetoric also feels damaging. Suggesting Tottenham fans need counseling for wanting City to win, despite earlier in the season saying he can’t tell supporters how to think, the usual trophy jibes more akin to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte in seasons gone by and even confronting a fan in the crowd all feed towards a growing disconnect between manager and supporters.”
Given this was a coach who made the fans feel good, he needs to take a moment to understand them better.
It has made the summer far more complicated than it might otherwise have been.
He didn’t have to agree with their stance, but he could have understood and accepted it.
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