Postecoglou defends second-season trophy comment after North London derby defeat


Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou defended his remark about “at all times” successful trophies in his second season after their defeat to Arsenal final weekend.

Regardless of Arsenal lacking a number of of their key gamers, Spurs have been undone in acquainted style as Gabriel Magalhaes nodded house from a set-piece to safe the North London bragging rights.

Spurs final received a title again in 2008 within the League Cup and at present occupy thirteenth within the early-season standings, having picked up 4 factors from their first 4 Premier League video games.

Postecoglou was left confused and amazed by the adverse response to his feedback and remains to be assured that he can lead Spurs to a trophy this season.

“It’s superb, isn’t it? I simply acknowledged a reality. Am I supposed to simply lie or simply say it by no means occurred,” Postecoglou mentioned. “However do you actually assume it’s me kind of boasting? It’s simply complicated to me that individuals are making an enormous deal out of one thing. I’m unsure how I’m presupposed to reply one thing that’s true.

“I’ve simply mentioned one thing that’s true, and it looks as if it’s upset lots of people for some motive. In my 26 years of managing, I’ve had success and most of that has come within the second 12 months, not all of it. Generally it’s occurred within the first 12 months, generally within the third 12 months.

“I don’t see why that places additional strain. It doesn’t put additional strain on me as a result of I like the truth that I’ve finished that. It’s what I need to do right here.

“I’d prefer to assume that simply saying the reality is the best way to go ahead however I feel generally that’s too confronting for individuals, they’d a lot reasonably I didn’t.”

Brentford, in the meantime, have been concerned in Carabao Cup motion in midweek and booked their place within the subsequent spherical with a snug 3-1 victory over Leyton Orient.

Fabio Carvalho starred for the Bees, notching a purpose and two assists as he continues to seek out his ft beneath Thomas Frank since his transfer from Liverpool throughout the switch window.

Frank was happy his facet have been in a position to keep away from an early exit from the competitors, saying the extent his gamers reached on Tuesday is one thing they need to preserve if they’re to return to successful methods within the league.

“It’s job finished. I’ve mentioned it many occasions: we need to go on a cup run, we need to go so far as attainable and doubtlessly win it – we all know it’s troublesome however that’s the goal,” Frank mentioned.

“In these video games, I want to seek out the proper stability between placing a robust crew on the market, the combo of freshness but additionally with the sport on Saturday in thoughts, after which additionally utilizing the squad, as a result of gamers want that to develop and likewise need to be included.

“We hit the extent right this moment; credit score to Leyton Orient, they did nicely within the first 20 minutes, we didn’t get sufficient management, however then we obtained our purpose, and from there we have been in management.

“3-1 forward at half-time; second half, I needed us to be much more on prime, however it’s not straightforward, they gave all the pieces. However I’m happy.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Pedro Porro

Solely Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White (11) has created extra open play possibilities within the Premier League this season than Tottenham’s Pedro Porro (10).

The Portugal worldwide is the one participant to have created 4 or extra open play possibilities in two completely different video games this season (4 towards each Leicester and Arsenal).

Brentford – Mark Flekken

Flekken has made 22 saves in 4 Premier League matches this season, six greater than some other goalkeeper, and he could also be wanted as soon as once more in North London.

Since 2003-04, just one goalkeeper has ever made extra saves in a crew’s first 4 video games in a season – Tim Krul for Newcastle in 2015-16 (23).

MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN

Many say the primary purpose is crucial one, however that has not proved to be the case on this fixture. The crew scoring first has received not one of the final 4 Premier League conferences between Tottenham and Brentford (D2 L2).

Spurs have received simply 4 factors within the Premier League this season (W1 D1 L2), their fewest at this stage since 2015-16 (3). They haven’t misplaced three of their opening 5 video games since 2008-09 beneath Juande Ramos, who left the membership eight winless video games into that season.

The hosts may also want to enhance from set-pieces. Solely Nottingham Forest (27) have conceded extra set-piece targets (incl. penalties) within the Premier League for the reason that begin of final season than Tottenham (25).

Amongst all managers who’ve conceded greater than 50 targets in Premier League historical past, solely 4 have the next share of targets conceded by way of set items than Postecoglou (25/65, 38.5%).

Brentford have additionally received simply one in all their six Premier League conferences with Tottenham (D3 L2) and have struggled away from house, dropping 12 of their final 16 matches away from the Gtech Neighborhood Stadium.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Tottenham – 58.8%

Draw – 20.5%

Brentford – 20.6%





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