Ahead of Tottenham’s much-anticipated match against Fulham, manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the media, sharing insights on player fitness, the team’s progress, and his vision for the future. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the key points from his press conference:
1. Post-International Break Player Status Ange began by providing an update on the players returning from international duty. He confirmed, “Everyone’s kind of back and medical reports all seem to be good.” He also highlighted the senior debuts of Destiny and Mickey for their national teams. On Brennan’s availability, he mentioned, “Brennan we’ll just see how he goes next couple of days.”
2. Rodrigo Bentancur’s Return Regarding Bentancur, Ange stated, “Now he’s into full training… we’ll sort of pick our moment.” He emphasized the player’s progress and integration into the team during the past weeks.
3. Reflecting on the Season’s Start Ange was asked about the team’s impressive start to the season and the Manager of the Month award he received. He responded, “We’ve had a really encouraging start to the season… it’s been an encouraging start.” He stressed the importance of performance consistency and the resilience of the group.
4. The Feeling of Leading the Premier League On leading the Premier League during the international break, Ange remarked, “We’re in a great position in the league… my main focus is continual improvement in this group.” He emphasized the early stages of the team’s journey and the importance of staying true to their goals.
5. Brian Gil’s Role Ange sees Brian Gil playing a significant role in the coming months. He mentioned, “Having him back… he’ll get an opportunity.” He also touched upon the challenges faced by the team, such as having only three home games so far.
6. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s Professionalism Discussing Højbjerg, who was reportedly sought by Fulham during the transfer window, Ange praised his professionalism. He said, “He’s been a really important part… he presents himself well every day.” He emphasized the importance of every player’s contribution, regardless of starting or not.
7. Johan Lang’s Appointment as Technical Director Ange welcomed the appointment of Johan Lang as Tottenham’s Technical Director. He said, “It’s a position that we needed to fill… looking forward to him getting started.” He highlighted the importance of recruitment and finding the right fit for the club.
8. Dejan Kulusevski’s Well-being Addressing the recent incident in Brussels during Kulusevski’s game with Sweden, Ange confirmed that the player is fine. He expressed his dismay at such incidents but assured, “De is fine… he’s ready to go.”
In summary, Ange Postecoglou’s press conference was a blend of optimism, pragmatism, and a clear vision for Tottenham’s future. As the team prepares to face Fulham, fans can be hopeful of another strong performance, building on the foundation set in the early stages of the season.
COYS