Even if other small or big team the Overrated Manchester City can never take a point home from us”- Totheham Huspor Manager Ange Postecoglou sent warning message to Pep Guardiola and Manchester city fans

The tactic they employed unified the quartet: giving possession to City, defending deep, and hitting hard on the counter. In other words, the polar opposite of Postecoglou’s style of play – a high defensive line aiming to dominate the ball and commit runners forward. Is it time for him to become a little more conservative? The simple answer is no. The longer one deserves to be told again.

“I don’t do what I do to prove a point,” says Postecoglou. “When you look at the elite teams, there is one thing they all have in common. They all have a plan, invest in it, and stick to it. They don’t back down when the going gets tough.

“Whatever you strongly believe in as a person is only tested in the most difficult of times.” And these are crucial times for me because they will reveal what kind of football squad we want to be. You can avoid it by claiming injuries or that you’re playing Man City at home, but you’re either going to be a team that tries to knock off the big clubs or you’re a huge club. You are either one or the other.

“You need to show some guts.” So that is my approach. I’m not going to show anyone… ‘Keep an eye on me, I’ll take them on.’ It’s because I believe that’s the best route forward for us.”

Postecoglou has not reviewed any of Tottenham’s recent victories over City as part of his preparations. It is not because he is contemptuous of them; rather, he values the accomplishment of the results. However, they have little bearing on what happens next for Spurs under his leadership.

“I think there’s a reason I’m sitting here and the reason is the end game is not to beat City,” he said. “I’m not trying to build a team to beat City; I’m trying to build a team to succeed.” I wouldn’t be sitting here if [beating City] wasn’t enough. Someone else would do it.

“It’s a valid question: ‘Why wouldn’t you do it if you know it’ll be successful?’ But knowing who I am as a manager, I doubt anyone would expect me to go that route.”

Postecoglou refers back to a prior meeting with Pep Guardiola’s City to demonstrate that these types of showpieces are sometimes more about the processes, the staging stages in the larger trip. In a 2019 friendly against City, his Yokohama F Marinos club defeated 3-1. But they played their game, gaining 58% possession and establishing and increasing their belief. “At the time, it was a perfect exercise for us to say, ‘Let’s continue down this path.'” ‘This is the team we want to be,’ adds Postecoglou.

Rodrigo Bentancur suffered an ankle ligament damage against Aston Villa last Sunday after a harsh tackle from Matty Cash, which is Postecoglou’s newest headache. It was Bentancur’s first appearance for Spurs since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in February, a painful blow that, according to Postecoglou, has shook the squad. According to his manager, Bentancur will be unavailable “well into early next year.”

Although Yves Bissouma has returned from suspension, Pape Sarr is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, forcing Postecoglou to select between Pierre-Emile Hjbjerg and Bryan Gil. In other words, choose between being conservative and progressive. Eric Dier or Emerson Royal will most likely play centre defence. So, broadly speaking, the same question. What do you think Postecoglou will do if you were to guess?

“Every time we put a team out there it’s about us becoming the team we want to become,” he said. “We must ensure that we do not lose sight of the end goal, because that is why most teams and organisations fail at some point – when their resolve is tested, they are found wanting.”