1. On the Possibility of a Replay: Jürgen Klopp’s suggestion of a replay for the game was brought up, and Ange weighed in on the matter. He believes that while the VAR incident was a unique and unprecedented mistake, it was still just that – a mistake. He doesn’t see a mistake as a threshold for a replay, especially given the potential implications for other games.
“When you’re talking about a replay, there’s got to be some sort of threshold, and I don’t think a mistake is a threshold for that.“
2. The Role of VAR in Football: Postecoglou expressed his reservations about the current form of VAR in football. He feels that while goal-line technology is a no-brainer, VAR is not yet ready for the game. He emphasized the unique nature of football and expressed concerns about the game becoming too sanitized.
“I just think our game is unique… the beauty of our game is the frenetic pace of football.“
3. The Fun Aspect of Football with VAR: When asked about whether football is still fun with the current use of VAR, Ange reminisced about the imperfect nature of the game he loves. He worries about the direction the game might take in the future and hopes to retain the essence of football.
“I’ve always loved the fact that our game has more flaws in it… I’ve loved the imperfect nature of it.“
4. On Player Destiny and Dealing with Online Abuse: Postecoglou addressed the recent online abuse directed at player Destiny. He highlighted the supportive environment within the team and the mechanisms in place to deal with such incidents.
“He’s okay… the players are well aware these days that there are avenues where you can deal with these things.“
5. Managing Players Not in the Starting XI: Ange discussed the challenge of managing players who aren’t currently in the starting lineup. He praised players like Ben Davies, Skippy, and Emerson Royal for their training ethic and emphasized the importance of maintaining a high training standard.
“Our best trainers are guys like Ben Davies, Skippy, Emerson Royal… them being the best trainers means that the guys who are playing think, ‘I better train well because these guys are ready to take my spot.’“
6. On Eric’s Role and Future: Postecoglou touched upon Eric’s role in the team. He mentioned that while Eric has faced some disruptions due to injuries and other issues, he continues to train and make himself available for selection.
“He’s training and making himself available… if they feel the need to discuss their future, then I’m more than happy to do that.“
7. The Essence of Football and Unique Venues: When asked about the unique environment of Kenilworth Road, Ange expressed his respect for all football venues, irrespective of their size or facilities. He emphasized the importance of respecting each club’s home ground and what it represents for the local community.
“For them, that’s their home… I don’t think about it in any terms other than we’re facing a tough Premier League opponent.“
In this embargoed section of the press conference, Ange Postecoglou delved deeper into some of the pressing issues surrounding the game, the team, and the broader football landscape. His insights offer a glimpse into the mind of a manager navigating the challenges and joys of Premier League football.
