Ange Postecoglou says he is the “only voice” defending Tottenham – and that other clubs receive much more backing from pundits.
The 59-year-old head coach is under substantial pressure after his side’s 16th Premier League defeat of the season away at Chelsea on Thursday.
Spurs host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter final first leg next Thursday, with their progress in the competition likely a key factor in determining Postecoglou’s future.
In a candid 40-minute conversation with the media on Friday, the Australian spoke about Tottenham needing more vocal internal and external support, why he will keep standing up to “bully” fans and how long he will last at the club.
‘The only voice you hear is me’
Against Chelsea, Postecoglou cupped his ear in the direction of the travelling Spurs fans after substitute Pape Sarr, whose introduction was booed four minutes earlier, scored an equaliser that was later disallowed after a lengthy VAR check.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp criticised Postecoglou for the gesture. In response, the Australian highlighted the difference in the coverage of the two clubs.
“In the time I’ve been here, we’ve had two decisions that have gone for us against Liverpool and there has been a national campaign,” he said.
He said it was telling the “big story” from the Chelsea defeat was his interaction with Spurs fans and how he has “made things more difficult” rather than about a match being “materially changed by technology”.
Postecoglou claimed this is part of a pattern of other major clubs having much more prominent pundit and ex-player voices in the media than Spurs.
“I never switch on the TV and hear any sort of strong voice,” he said. “The only voice you hear is me. When we’re talking about the bigger clubs, there seem to be a lot more voices.
“There’s never any sort of defending of the club or the club defending itself, which makes it even more difficult because every club goes through tough moments and it’s how you react to them.
“That’s a unique challenge, but I accepted that challenge so I’ve got to try to find a way to overcome it.”
When asked what Spurs could be doing better, Postecoglou said: “By being more vocal. You probably hear too much from me, to be honest.
“It doesn’t have to be just from people at the club. I hear plenty of people talking and defending other clubs. But it seems with Tottenham, wherever there’s a sore, there’s a real pile on to sort of stick a finger in that sore and then we kind of accept our fate.”
Why Postecoglou confronts abusive fans
Postecoglou has also confronted individual supporters away at Fulham and at home against Leicester this season.
He defended those actions and said he will continue to stand up for what he believes is “right” by challenging those trying to goad him into a reaction on camera.
“For young people, a phone is more dangerous than any weapon in the world,” he said.
“Why are you holding up a phone? What are you trying to do? So you can put it on social media and say: ‘Look, I got Ange Postecoglou to react, isn’t that great?’ I can take it. I don’t care.
“What if they take that in the school yard? As soon as I see a phone, I’m going to react. I’m not going to accept it. I’m always going to do that.
“I’m just not at that stage in my life where I’m going to accept people trying to bully you or antagonise me or try to do things that show total disrespect.”
[BBC]