‘I don’t like ceilings’ – Postecoglou does not want to set Spurs expectations
Ange Postecoglou has insisted that he has no regrets about making nine changes for the Carabao Cup second-round clash against Fulham even though it cost Tottenham their best chance of winning a trophy this season.
Many Spurs fans were surprised to see Postecoglou naming an almost entirely different eleven at Craven Cottage, particularly given that the club have no European football to worry about this season.
The decision ultimately cost the Lilywhites, who played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Marco Silva’s men and were eliminated on penalties.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Adama Traore of Fulham and Oliver Skipp of Tottenham Hotspur battle for the ball during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on August 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
However, that result has not impacted Tottenham’s momentum in the Premier League, with Postecoglou’s men responding with a 5-2 demolition of Burnley at Turf Moor a few days later.
When Postecoglou was told that some Spurs fans had been disappointed by the Carabao Cup exit and asked if he has any regrets over his team selection, the Australian told talkSPORT: “No. I’ve been at pains to say for my whole career that supporters should feel the way they feel. I’m not going to tell them to not be disappointed.
“I’m not in this job desperate to win something just to win something. I’m here because I want to create a club that has the opportunity to win things on a yearly basis.
“And there’s a difference because us winning a Carabao Cup and finishing tenth is not what I think this club is about. That’s not dismissing the Carabao Cup. I want to win every game; trust me, I was disappointed on that night as well. But that’s not the endgame for me.
“It’s not about just winning something for the sake of winning something. It’s about building something. That’s what’s always driven me my whole career.
“I want to build clubs that have sustainable success and supporters go into every season feeling good about their prospects and watching their team play football.”
Postecoglou wants to take every game as it comes
The 58-year-old also refused a put a limit on what Tottenham can achieve in the Premier League this season, insisting that everything is in place at N17 for the club to be successful.
When asked what the ceiling for Spurs is this season, Postecoglou responded: “I don’t like ceilings and I don’t like floors. I don’t like any sort of impediment that limits anything you do in life. From my perspective let’s see where it takes us.
“When I started this off 26 or 27 years ago as a manager I left the bank to become a manager, I could tell you that there were plenty of ceilings put in front of me then.
“I don’t work that way. It’s about getting this club to the levels that I believe it deserves to be. It’s got an unbelievable training facility, stadium, support. It’s got all the ingredients you’d ever want for a club to have success.
“My role within that is to manifest it into something more tangible on the field and give the punters and supporters something to be proud of. Who knows mate. Whatever the ceiling that may exist is let’s see if we can smash through it.”
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It is vitally important for Postecoglou at this stage to get the whole squad to buy into his methods and to not lose support in the dressing room. It is for that reason that he had to give opportunities to the fringe players against Fulham. The Australian needs the squad players to be fully committed to the project if Tottenham are to achieve success this season.
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