I’LL NEVER DO A JOSE
Cool head Ange says knee slides aren’t for him
Ange Postecoglou will never copy Jose Mourinho in sprinting down the touchline in celebration, saying yesterday that such emotional eruptions are a waste of valuable seconds when he needs to be thinking tactically.
Tottenham’s manager was calm amid the chaos when Son Heungmin scored in the 86th minute to secure Saturday’s 2-1 win over Luton — with each of Spurs’ last four wins at home seeing them come from behind. Postecoglou used that time to plot a substitution, swapping Son for Pierreemile Hojbjerg as his side stayed in pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Only Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have picked up more points from losing positions this season and Postecoglou claimed yesterday that the secret to being an expert in comebacks is to never change your approach, whatever the scoreline. The Australian, 58, also said it helps to keep your cool while everyone else is celebrating.
Ahead of travelling to West Ham tonight, Postecoglou said: ‘ If I want the players to be clear-headed in that moment, it won’t help if I am jumping around and screaming my head off.
‘It’s not me. I’ve learned that over the course of my career and in those moments, I still may be needed. We scored and made a substitution straight away and put Pierre on.
‘If I am running down the touchline, thinking we’ve scored and won, I’m not helping the team. That doesn’t mean internally I’m not running. It’s not that I think this is the way it should be. It’s just me as a person.
‘This is the best way I can deal with what is happening.’
On Spurs’ impressive number of comebacks, Postecoglou added: ‘ That has been consistent throughout my career. All of my teams had that trademark. Part of that is the game model itself. As simple as it sounds, when you’re so committed to playing a certain way, the score almost becomes irrelevant. A lot of teams, when they fall behind, have to change their approach. With us, we won’t change.’
Postecoglou turned the tables on one reporter who asked him whether Tottenham fear Manchester United, who are eight points adrift of them in the fight for a Champions League place.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Can you see us challenging Manchester City? no? They’re only eight points ahead of us.’