ANGE MAKES POINTS ON RACE TO THE LINE
Postecoglou has an eye on catching up with City
WEST HAM V TOTTENHAM 8.15PM, TNT SPORTS
ANGE POSTECOGLOU believesTottenham reeling in third-placed Manchester City is as realistic a prospect as City’s neighbours catching Spurs in the race for the Champions League places.
The Tottenham manager is not fixated on final league positions, but, when asked if United are still top-four rivals, he said: “Can you see us challenging Manchester City?
“No? Well they’re only eight points ahead of us. You either think we can catch Man City or you think Man United can’t catch us.
“What’s important for me is that we want to finish the season strong and keep building on being a team that, hopefully, in 12 months’ time people are talking about differently.”
Postecoglou has made Spurs renowned for their comebacks after another against Luton on Saturday. Only Liverpool (26) have won more points from losing positions than Spurs (22) this season.
Postecoglou, whose side were booed off at half-time when they trailed Luton, said: “All of my teams had that trademark of being able to turn around results or winning games late. “When you’re so committed to playing a certain way, the score almost becomes irrelevant. Whether we’re winning or losing we don’t change our approach.
“That makes it easier for the players to look for solutions in the way we play rather than look for something that is not a constant in our gameplan.” Postecoglou exuding calm on the sidelines no doubt helps with any anxiety the players may be feeling.
He said: “If I am running down the touchline thinking we’ve won, I’m not helping the team, but that doesn’t mean internally I’m not running.”
Postecoglou, left, leapt to the defence of West Ham manager David Moyes, who continues to have critics despite his team’s success.
The Spurs manager said: “He has done a brilliant job. It’s today’s world. There is always a short-term reflex to everything that happens.”
WEST HAM (probable): Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Soucek, WardProwse; Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen; Antonio.
TOTTENHAM (probable): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Maddison, Son; Richarlison.