Ange Postecoglou remains defiant at Spurs: ‘I am not going to change my values’

Ange Postecoglou reiterates his commitment to his principles once again, insisting that he is not going to change his approach just because of the criticism he has been facing.

Criticism continues to fall on deaf ears

The one constant criticism right through Postecoglou‘s tenure has been that the Tottenham head coach does not have a plan B.

Pundits have repeatedly accused the Tottenham head coach of not adapting to the demands of the game, suggesting that he cannot succeed at the Premier League level if he does not do so.

However, the Australian has been clear right from the outset that he has a deep-seated belief in his principles and that he is not one to change things quickly.

Ange Postecoglou points out that criticism is nothing new

The criticism of Postecoglou‘s alleged naivety began when Chelsea came to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.

At the time, Spurs continued pressing the Blues high up the pitch and committing bodies forward despite being down to nine men, and they were punished on the counter-attack, with the West London side emerging 4-1 winners.

When asked ahead of the showdown against Chelsea if his core values have changed since that game more than a year ago, Postecoglou told Football.London: “No, not really and I think we have seen evidence of that this year.

“Nothing has changed in terms of my resolve to play the type of football I want to play and be that kind of team. It’s just that we haven’t understood the other side of that and that is the discipline and resilience to overcome difficult moments so that the football we have can come through.

“When we have won this year, we have been pretty compelling. It’s not just struggling victories. Every game we have won we have been very dominant and exactly the team we want to be so we have shown the potential of what we can be but that kind of gets diminished by performances like last night.”

The Tottenham boss pointed out that he has heard the same criticism levelled at him throughout his managerial career, adding that it has never compelled him to abandon his values.

He continued: “I keep saying I have had 26 years of that. I come in here right and I can only be really myself and answer questions the way I want to if I really believe in what I am doing. I am not going to change my values, I’m not going to change my beliefs, I’m not going to change my sense of purpose or the way I do things because then I can’t come in here and defend what I am doing.

“I can defend this to the day I’m gone if I’m doing it my way. So like I said it is not unusual for me, it’s not unique and sometimes you kind of understand that people are going to see what we are doing in that light. ‘Well, why don’t you change?’ But change to what? To something somebody else is doing or somebody else did? I was brought here to do it my way otherwise what is the point of me being here.”

Ange Postecoglou on similar examples set by other clubs

The 59-year-old pointed out that other clubs also go through difficult moments like this when they are building, which is often forgotten when they get to their desired destination.

He admitted that neither he nor the players are happy with the team’s current predicament, but he insisted that his role is to deliberately chart a way forward rather than being carried away by the emotions.

Postecoglou added: “I’m sure at other clubs, if you stick to a plan and got through difficult moments, there’s dissension among supporters in these moments. You forget about that when you’re on the other side.

“It’s about winning but it’s about belief as well in what you’re doing sometimes. You look beyond the results I think. That’s what happened at the start of my tenure last year. We lost against Chelsea but there was a sense that we were building something. Obviously it kind of went off the rails after that game. It’s not just about winning, but where we are right now it will certainly help.

“I’d be surprised if [the players] think I was happy with this. I don’t think they are either. I don’t think they’re comfortable with where we’re at. It’s not just about anger and screaming and yelling. It’s about purpose and direction and responsibility and charting a way forward. That’s much more important for me.”

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