Tottenham: Honest Ange Postecoglou verdict dropped after what he did following Fulham defeat
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is always “honest” in his assessment after giving a sarcastic reply to a question about Champions League qualification, Paul Robinson has said.
Spurs were well beaten 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage on 16 March, a result that followed a 4-0 rout of fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.
After the game, Postecoglou was asked by Sky Sports how much of a dent it was to their hopes of reaching the qualifying places for Europe’s elite competition.
The Australian almost laughed at the question and replied sarcastically: “Look it’s all over, so we’ll just go for sixth. What am I supposed to say that, we’re what two points behind Villa?”
Robinson, though, thinks his pretty snarky retort was just a sign of how high his ambitions are at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Robinson said: “I think it’s his long-term plan, it’s his long-term goal.
“He’s not come to achieve Europa League, Conference League, or Champions League, he wants to create a team that’s able to compete at the top of the league and that’s what he’s aspiring to.
“At the start of the season, realistically, what were the goals? A European place? Champions League at the start of this season looked out of reach and it will be a fantastic finish.
“But I think the manager speaks very well after games, he keeps his counsel, he’s honest, and when he’s asked if he wants to finish in the Champions League – he wants to finish higher.
“I think if the question was loaded as, ‘realistically is the Champions League a good achievement this season?’, I think his answer may have been different.
“But I think over the long term he wants to create something. When he first came to the club he was asked if he is looking to win a trophy and he’s like, ‘I’m not a quick fix, I’m not coming to win one trophy, I’m coming to create a team that competes for trophies and at the top of the league year in year out not just for one trophy and off’.”
Ange Postecoglou has lofty Tottenham ambitions
It was a pretty sarcastic reply from Postecoglou, who has won a lot of hearts with his amiable nature during his first season at the club.
But you do have to forgive managers sometimes, especially when they’re expected to give answers to questions off the back of a hugely disappointing defeat.
And behind the sarcasm there was, crucially, an extremely valid point. There are two points separating fourth-place Villa and fifth-place Spurs.
Fifth itself might be good enough to play in next season’s Champions League but either way there is still a great chance that Tottenham finish fourth.
In other Tottenham News, Gary Lineker was wowed by what one Spurs ace did on Tuesday.
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