"There is always a feeling that something could go wrong at Tottenham."
Ange Postecoglou (60), the coach, has once again taken a jab at the club's deep-rooted negative narrative.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 3rd that "Postecoglou, the Tottenham Hotspur coach, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing negative atmosphere surrounding Tottenham, despite their victory over Bodo/Glimt."
Tottenham defeated Norwegian powerhouse Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals for the 2024-2025 season held on the 2nd, gaining an advantageous position to reach the final. However, in the Premier League, they remain 16th with a staggering 19 losses in 34 matches.
Along with poor league performance, there have also been recent protests by fans against the club's management. Coach Postecoglou pointed out that "the negative narrative that has spread both inside and outside the club is very strong."
Before the match against West Ham United, he said at a press conference, "Whether you closely observe the club Tottenham or not, there is always a negative nuance surrounding everything this team does. And this has been going on for a very long time," adding, "We need to break that wall."
He continued, "When we conceded a goal in the 39th minute of the second half against Bodo/Glimt, the atmosphere in the stadium became tense and anxious. That response itself reflects a culture of distrust ingrained within us. Since we have not won a trophy since 2008, it seems that fans tend to feel anxiety before expectation."
He noted, "Tottenham fans have really experienced many disappointing moments. So a 'psychological safeguard' has established itself to avoid getting too excited about the present. However, such thinking is not a winner's mindset."
He emphasized, "Winners do not think about what could go wrong. Rather, they focus on what needs to be done to win. I want to instill that culture in this team."
Coach Postecoglou remarked on the team's atmosphere, saying, "If you expect something to go wrong, it will actually happen," and added, "So I am focusing only on what is important and confronting the negative currents outside of that."
Meanwhile, he officially announced at the press conference that Lucas Beriwal has been ruled out for the season due to an ankle injury. James Maddison is expected to undergo a detailed examination for a knee injury, and Dominic Solanke's participation in the match against West Ham is uncertain due to thigh pain. Tottenham will play an away match against West Ham in the Premier League's 35th round on the 4th at 10 p.m.
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