Postecoglou wants to beat City even if it hands Arsenal title
Ange Postecoglou has said he does not understand why some Tottenham supporters would prefer to lose against Manchester City tonight if it means Arsenal do not win their first title for 20 years. Arsenal’s victory against Manchester United on Sunday means City must win for the first time in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to reclaim top spot before the final round of matches on Sunday.
A defeat or draw would leave Arsenal in pole position but Postecoglou was adamant that his side will be aiming for victory.
“People are allowed to feel the way they do,” he said when asked for his thoughts on some fans wanting to lose to stop Arsenal from winning the league. “I don’t understand it, I never will. I understand rivalry. I was part of one of the biggest ones in the world in the last couple of years with Celtic and Rangers but I’ve never, and will never, understand if someone wants their own team to lose. That’s not what sport is about.
“But I think I’ve been consistent and strong in my belief it’s important for this football club not to look for magic bullets to get to where we want to. It’s hard work, it’s resilience, it’s quality, not to fall for any false dawns – and know what real success looks like: trophies. Anything else in between, bragging rights, whatever it is, is absolutely meaningless to me or anyone involved with me. We’ve got a game we want to win.”
Postecoglou pointed to what is on display at the club to underline his point. “I suppose in these last 15 years, there have been years where Tottenham have had bragging rights. Walk through the halls, there’s no bragging rights there. The pictures on the wall do not show players with a big sign saying: ‘We’ve got bragging rights’. They’ve just got pictures of Bill Nicholson and people who have actually achieved. That’s where I want to get us.”
City finally tasted victory at Spurs’ new home at the sixth attempt when beating them in the FA Cup in January but have not scored a goal there in four Premier League defeats. Yet Postecoglou, who confirmed Yves Bissouma will not play again until next season after sustaining a knee injury in the win against Burnley on Saturday, believes history counts for nothing against City, who are attempting to seal an unprecedented fourth successive title.
“We’ve got an opportunity to measure ourselves against the best: a team that has consistently strived for honours. We want to emulate them one day and the best way to do that is to test yourself against them. We’ll play our football and see where it takes us.”