Tottenham fans will support us against Arsenal’s title rivals- Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou is convinced that the majority of Tottenham fans want their side to win against Manchester City tomorrow night – even if it means handing bitter rivals Arsenal the Premier League title race.
City are a point behind the Gunners at the top of the table, who also have the better goal difference, meaning Pep Guardiola’s men must win in North London before the final round of fixtures this weekend.
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And with Spurs’ Champions League hopes all but gone – Aston Villa hold a four-point lead in the race for fourth place with two games to go – the hosts have nothing to play for, which is why many fans will have no doubt that City will leave. with a win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou sees it differently.
He said: “Do you think most of our fans won’t want us to win tomorrow night?
“I don’t see it that way. I think most of our fans will build the atmosphere they always build at our games.
“We have a football game to win and that is what we will try to do.
“If you use social media, 99% of them will want Spurs to lose against Man City… but please don’t tell me that’s your world. If so, you need counseling.
“I understand the rivalry but I can’t understand that there is someone who wants his team to lose.”
“That’s not what sports is about. What I love more than anything is competition.”
He added: “People are allowed to feel how they feel.
“But I think I have been consistent and firm in my beliefs that it is important for this football club not to look for silverware to get to where we want to be. It is hard work, persistence, quality, not succeeding in any false dawn – and knowing what real success looks like: lips.
“Anything else in between, bragging rights, whatever it is, means nothing to me or anyone associated with me. We have a game we want to win.”
Will Arsenal fans cheer for Tottenham?
The flip side is the almost uncharacteristic nature of Arsenal fans cheering on Spurs tomorrow night – another situation Postecoglou finds difficult to understand.
The Australian said: “I’ve never thought about sport that way.
“There is a football game tomorrow night. What do you think will happen? What do you think we will do as a team?
“Like any team in the world, aren’t we going to try to win? It’s a simple, basic thing.
“The way that makes people feel, I’m not really angry. I hate to think that anyone thinks we’re going to come out and do anything but try to win the game.
“How can we be a winning team if we don’t win big games, if we run away from them?”
Back to @SpursStadium tomorrow night 👊
🔜 #TOTCI pic.twitter.com/KmiEsfQjRp
– Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 13, 2024
Tottenham have the best record at their new home against City, despite losing 1-0 in the FA Cup this season following Nathan Ake’s goal.
“My recent home record against them is one game, one defeat,” said Postecoglou.
“So I won’t take confidence from that. What I will take confidence from is that we got the chance to measure ourselves against the best.
“A team that always strives for respect. We want to emulate them one day and the best way to do that is to practice against them. We will play our football and see where it takes us.”
What does Postecoglou do with Manchester City?
Postecoglou is a huge admirer of Guardiola and what he has achieved at City.
“It’s amazing,” he said.
“Sometimes people think, once you’ve won it, it’s easy, but it’s difficult.
“You have a target on your back and you have to always try to climb the mountain again, you know they’ve been doing it.
“Especially in the Premier League with the demands of the competition. They are always fighting in many places.
“It is a testimony, not only to Pep but to the whole organization and how it wants to achieve success.”
