Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou acknowledged that the groundwork he has laid at the club is “fragile” following their 2-0 loss to Manchester City, a result that could potentially prevent their north London rivals Arsenal from clinching the Premier League title. Erling Haaland’s two goals in the second half dashed Spurs’ hopes of securing Champions League football and propelled City to the top of the table, placing them two points ahead of Arsenal ahead of the final fixtures on Sunday.
Postecoglou had previously downplayed the notion that Tottenham fans would prefer their team to lose if it meant thwarting Arsenal’s title aspirations. However, following a subdued atmosphere during the match, characterized by chants aimed at mocking Arsenal, the Australian manager admitted that he had underestimated the sentiment among supporters.
That’s things I’ve got to go back to the drawing board on,” said Postecoglou.
The former Celtic boss was further pressed on whether his frustration was aimed at the fans or those inside the club.
“(I) Don’t care. Outside, inside, everywhere. It’s been an interesting exercise,” he added.
“I probably misread the situation in what it takes to make a winning team.”
Tottenham has developed a trend of scoring late goals throughout this season, as evidenced by their thrilling 3-3 draw against City at the Etihad earlier in the campaign. Despite this reputation, Spurs had opportunities to secure at least a point in the recent match, notably when Son Heung-min failed to convert a one-on-one chance against Stefan Ortega late in the game. However, there was a notable absence of encouragement from the crowd, as they did not seem to rally behind their team in an effort to defeat the defending champions.
“Of course it does (have an impact). It is what it is,” said Postecoglou on the atmosphere.
“I can’t dictate what people do. Yeah, when we’ve got late winners in games, it is because the crowd has helped us.
“What other people’s priorities are doesn’t interest me. I know what we need to build a winning team and that’s what I’m concentrating on.”
Tottenham still needs to secure fifth place in the Premier League standings to ensure Europa League football for the next season. However, they only require a single point from their upcoming fixture against relegated Sheffield United on Sunday to achieve this goal.
