Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou remains unfazed by his previous assertion that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club, as Spurs prepare to overturn a first-leg deficit against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
With Tottenham already out of both domestic cups and trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 36 points, the Europa League presents their last shot at silverware this season. The club has not lifted a trophy since 2008.
Postecoglou has a track record of second-season success, having won trophies with Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Celtic.
However, Spurs must first overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in the Netherlands.
“We were disappointed with our performance in the first leg, but the tie is still very much in play,” Postecoglou said. “If we play with the same intensity and tempo as we did against Bournemouth, we’ll have a good chance to progress.”
When asked if he regretted his confident trophy prediction, Postecoglou stood by his words. “I wasn’t making anything up. People have taken it as a bold claim, but it was just a fact. If it doesn’t happen, then I simply won’t be able to say it next year,” he added.
Spurs have been hit by injuries in recent months, but Postecoglou received a boost with defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both fit to start together for the first time since December.
Postecoglou is also counting on the club’s senior players to lead the charge. “We’ve relied a lot on our young players, but games like this require experience,” he said. “Having leaders like Romero, Vicario, Maddison, and Sonny (Son Heung-min) out there will be beneficial.”
Spurs will look to their leaders and home advantage to turn the tie around and keep their trophy hopes alive.
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