Ange Postecoglou was a winner at Celtic Park.
The manager lifted five trophies in just two seasons as Celtic boss before that earned him his move to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League which has not gone to plan.
Spurs sit 13th in the division and out of all domestic competitions with just the Europa League to play for now. It’s a far cry from his success at Celtic Park as well as in Japan where he also won titles with Yokohama F Marinos.
Postecoglou recently insisted he has “always” won a trophy in his second season at every club he’s worked at and that had Spurs fans excited at the prospect of saving their campaign with some silverware. But after they lost 1-0 in Netherlands to AZ Alkmaar in their “deeply concerning” knockout first-leg last week, more worries popped up.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Postecoglou said he ‘always wins a trophy in his second season’ after doing so at Celtic
And before the second-leg in North London later this evening, Postecoglou was asked if he regretted bringing up his accomplishments at Celtic and other clubs.
But the Australian said: “My view has always been when you’re asked a question you answer it. I wasn’t making anything up. I was asked a question, I answered that question.
“People have sort of used it for their own purposes in suggesting I was making a bold claim but I wasn’t. I was stating a fact. If that doesn’t happen this year then I cannot say that anymore if I’m asked next year can I?
“What was I supposed to say? ‘I always win in the second year but, well I have in the past everywhere I’ve been, here it won’t happen’ Is that what people want to hear?
“I don’t have an issue with that. People can twist these things and use them. Maybe we will defy the odds and I do win something. You know what people will say? ‘Isn’t it great that he made such a bold claim.’ People just use it the way they want to depending on the circumstances.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
“I will always answer things the way I feel comfortable answering them. I’m really comfortable and proud of the fact that everywhere I have been I have won things. I think it’s something where I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t. Whether I win something in my second year here time will tell.”
Tottenham’s manager has history of spiky interview answers
Postecoglou can be spiky in interviews with the media and proved it during his time in the Scottish Premiership.
And amid the heat down south, the former Socceroos head coach showed another sign of it when asked a question about this evening’s Euro clash.
Asked by a member of the press corps if it’s “win or bust”, Ange moaned: “There are not many professions in the world where you have to come in and answer questions like that, is there?
“But I am going to be polite and say we’re focused on winning the game and need to put in a better performance than we did last Thursday.
“Obviously that wasn’t anywhere near the standard we want to play, but if we can play with the intensity and tempo we showed at the weekend, we’ll give ourselves a good chance to progress.”