Ange Postecoglou Maintains Stance on Trophy Ambitions as Spurs Aim for Europa League Advancement

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed no regrets over his assertion that he tends to win a trophy in his second season at a new club, as the North London outfit aims to recover from a first-leg deficit at home against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

With Spurs eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by a significant 36 points, the Europa League represents their last opportunity for silverware, a pursuit that has eluded them since 2008.

Postecoglou’s confident claim comes after achieving trophy success in his second seasons with Brisbane Roar in Australia, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, and Celtic in Scotland.

However, his Spurs team faces the challenge of overcoming a 1-0 deficit against Alkmaar, who hold the advantage following the first leg in the Netherlands.

“No, there’s no extra pressure. We were certainly disappointed with how we performed in the first leg. The key point is that we haven’t made it impossible to turn this around; it’s still very much in the balance,” Postecoglou remarked to the press on Wednesday.

“They have the lead, but playing at home, if we can replicate the intensity and tempo from our last match (a 2-2 comeback draw with Bournemouth), we should have a chance to go through.”

“If we progress, we’re in for another significant challenge in the next round. Our focus is on delivering a solid performance tomorrow night.”

When questioned about any regrets regarding his confident statement about trophy-winning, Postecoglou clarified he was merely stating facts.

“I wasn’t fabricating anything; I was responding to a question. People have taken it and suggested I was making a bold prediction,” he added.

“If it doesn’t happen, I won’t be able to say that again next year, will I?”

After navigating a tumultuous three months marred by an injury crisis, Postecoglou has received a lift with defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero set to start together for the first time since early December.

Romero played an hour against Bournemouth, while Van de Ven made an appearance for the final 30 minutes.

“They managed the match well,” he stated. “Romero had no issues, and it was fantastic to get Micky back on the pitch. They’re both available for selection.”

Postecoglou also emphasised his reliance on the club’s “leadership group,” including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, to steer Spurs into the quarter-finals.

“You want your experienced players to shine in these crucial games. We’ve leaned heavily on the younger talents who have made significant strides,” he said.

“Players like Romero, Vicario, (James) Maddison, and Sonny (Son Heung-min) are our key leaders, and having all four on the field will certainly be beneficial.”