Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged that many Tottenham Hotspur supporters are losing belief in him. He also confessed that with hindsight, he would have approached the season`s beginning differently.
Tottenham is currently in the lower half of the league table and has been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup semi-finals (by Liverpool) and the FA Cup (after a fourth-round defeat to Aston Villa).
Despite a challenging campaign marked by injuries, Tottenham could still achieve success by winning the Europa League. Their quarter-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt is scheduled for next Thursday at home.
However, manager Postecoglou is aware that he has lost the complete confidence of a significant portion of fans, despite the initial optimism from his first season.
The 59-year-old stated, “There is definitely a large segment of Tottenham fans who have lost some faith and trust in our direction.”
“They felt positive about last year, but this year’s results haven`t reflected that optimism.”
“I remain very optimistic and confident about the team we have. I believe there will be substantial development within this group once we overcome these challenges.”
“Navigating difficult periods can significantly strengthen unity among people.”
Postecoglou has had to manage a significant number of injuries, with numerous players experiencing muscle problems.
In an interview with Optus Sport, Postecoglou mentioned to Mark Schwarzer that he regrets pushing his players so intensely at the season`s outset.
The former Celtic manager explained, “We likely made errors at the beginning of the season. It’s increasingly demanding for footballers today, as they don`t get a traditional off-season.”
“We started the season very intensely and probably underestimated the demands of European competition this year, with two additional matches and our extended cup run.”
“Adding to this, we lost key players early in the season, and it feels like we’ve been trying to catch up ever since. We haven’t managed to get ahead of the issues we’ve faced.”
“Each time we attempt to stabilize, something else occurs, often related to our initial approach at the start of the year.”
“Knowing the season ahead, we might have chosen a different strategy.”
“I’ve been trying to fix things as we progress.”
“Looking back, with better initial planning, I would have opted for a less intense start to the season in terms of our approach.”
Spurs are set to play against Chelsea away, then host Southampton, followed by their Europa League home leg against Frankfurt.
Postecoglou added: “The Europa League presents a huge opportunity. We are among the final eight teams.
“If we can endure what we have this year and emerge successfully, it will greatly contribute to our future development.”
Marcus Bellamy