Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham have reached some extent the place even the “good stuff” they produce will appeal to a component of criticism.
The Spurs head coach was responding to a query about Mathys Tel, who struck a last-minute penalty to safeguard a 3-1 win over Southampton on Sunday, regardless of Brennan Johnson having the chance to finish a hat-trick.
Spurs’ victory over backside membership Saints – who have been relegated within the course of – was their first in 5 Premier League outings as they languish 14th within the desk, having misplaced 16 league video games this season.
“We scored, we won. Delighted. It’s incredible. If we’re 2-1 up and we get a penalty in the last minute, I want our best penalty taker to take it,” Postecoglou mentioned.
“The one slight against this club is that it hasn’t been a winner. The winners’ mentality in the last minute is to score. We scored and somehow, in this alternate universe, everything Tottenham does is negative.”
Tottenham journey to Wolves on the weekend with the third-worst away document within the division, however earlier than then return to Europa League motion by internet hosting Eintracht Frankfurt, with many suggesting Postecoglou’s future on the membership might rely on whether or not or not he can salvage a poor season by ending the membership’s trophy drought.
Opta locations their probabilities of profitable the competitors at 17 per cent.
Mathys Tel’s injury-time penalty sealed Sunday’s win for Spurs regardless of Brennan Johnson’s frustration at not taking the spot kick
Spurs have solely gained one in all their final 13 main European quarter-final matches, however have triumphed in two earlier residence video games towards Thursday’s opponents Frankfurt, who gained the Europa League themselves in 2022.
“Even the good stuff we may do is turned into ‘glass half-empty’ rhetoric,” Postecoglou continued. “That can’t be a driver. The lads are keen to bring success to the club, keeping driving the principles of this journey in terms of playing our football.
“Hopefully we labored our manner right into a place the place we are able to make an impression on a disappointing season. I do not suppose I can win the argument of convincing individuals. The final sentiment of individuals is ‘even when I win [the Europa League] I am gone anyway’.
“We’re in a quarter-final, we don’t want to let that slip us by or have the wrong mindset. I think the players are handling it well, embracing the challenge.”
Wilson Odobert scored twice as Tottenham overcame a scare by AZ Alkmaar within the final spherical
Tottenham’s damage woes have eased significantly, nevertheless the principle miss shall be Dejan Kulusevski, who has three objective contributions in Europe this yr, whereas Kevin Danso additionally stays absent.
Postecoglou added: “We’ve got ourselves into a position where we have an opportunity to progress to the final stages. We have to focus on having a strong home performance.
“It is essential we play the soccer we wish to play, we’re getting ourselves again into sustaining our ranges.
“I’ve said before [criticism] isn’t what drives me. I came with a clear vision – changing the way the team plays to rejuvenate the squad, because it was coming to the end of a cycle. Irrespective of noise, I don’t see why that should diminish my ambition and desire to make that happen.
“Something you obtain in life normally comes with a wrestle. That is simply one other wrestle. By no means have I believed I’ve misplaced the desire to battle. I am going to proceed to try this.”
