'My plan is...' - Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou responds to second season trophy comment backlash

Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach Ange Postecoglou has responded to the backfire he received following a comment made on the weekend after Spurs suffered a 1-0 loss to Arsenal.

Following Sunday’s heated fixture in which Gabriel’s header ultimately proving the decider, Postecoglou was asked about a pre-season interview where he said “usually in my second season I win things.”

He replied to the follow-up question by saying: “I’ll correct myself - I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed. I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”

The former Celtic coach’s comments went on to receive heavy criticism but the poor reception is not something Postecoglou is reading to accept.

When put in front of the cameras again for Spurs’ pre-match press conference ahead of their EFL Cup clash against Coventry, the matter of second season trophies was once again brought up with Postecoglou firing back: “I just stated a fact but am I supposed to just lie?”

“It’s confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something (like this). I’m sure I’m supposed to answer something that is true.”

Having managed clubs across the world, the list of Postecoglou’s second season accolades include the National Soccer League titles with South Melbourne in 1997/8; promotion to the Premiership and Championship with Brisbane Roar in 2010/11; Yokohama F Marinos’ first J.League title in 15 years in 2019 and most recently the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Celtic in 2022/23.

“If I don’t win anything in the second year this time, coming out next season, and then say (the comment) then it’s not true”, Postecoglou continued. “But I’ve just said something that’s true and it seems like it’s upset a lot of people for some reason.”

When the Sky Sports reporter then commented on the unique nature of the comment, Postecoglou questioned: “Do you really think it’s me boasting? How am I supposed to answer something that’s true? Is it to say ‘no, actually it wasn’t that important, they were easy competitions it doesn’t mean anything.’

“If you’ve achieved something, you’re supposed to say ‘yes, I have and that’s what I hope to do again. I don’t know why people are trying to misconstrue it as me trying to boast about something, I’ve answered a question.

“My plan is for it to happen again this year and if it doesn’t happen then I can’t answer that question in the same way next year - I’ll say mostly, not always.”