Ange Postecoglou admits his expectations for Tottenham closely mirror Harry Kane’s and the Australian has explained exactly why he wanted to add James Maddison to his squad.
Kane, who has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, said of Tottenham towards the end of last season that “I feel we’ve lost a bit of the values at this club over the last few years, that is about finding a way. to get back on the same page again and of course with the fans as well”.
Postecoglou, who has joined Spurs after leading Celtic to five trophies in two seasons including the domestic treble this year, says he has similar beliefs about how a club should operate and is determined to ensure that there is a clear direction for everyone involved in the Nordics. London outfit.
“My philosophy – ‘philosophy’ I hate to use buzzwords – about culture to me is that it’s just people,” the 57-year-old said. “It’s people who define an environment. It’s very easy to come in and say this is what I want the culture to look like, but I have people who don’t fit into it, who don’t have characteristics or behavior.
“So the first thing you have to understand is what kind of people we have. The values that I hold dear are reflected in a lot of the values that this football club has in terms of the way you play football, but my foundation of culture and behavior is that we are all very lucky to do what we do.
“There’s not a person that comes through these gates that shouldn’t come through with a smile on their face, especially the football players. It starts there. If you have an appreciation and respect for your environment and the people there, I think that gives you a good chance to create something.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou gives update on status of potential Harry Kane move to Bayern
“Sometimes people need direction with it. If there’s no clear direction and clarity about what it’s going to look like, people can go off and do their own thing. I understand that. I have been and I will be pretty clear about my expectations around how I think we need to be as a group of players, a group of staff and as a football club and I don’t think it’s too far from the sort of things that Harry talked about.”
Asked whether one of his biggest challenges will be reprogramming his players to his high-energy, attack-based style after four years of playing more as a counter-attacking team, Postecoglou nodded in agreement and he is enjoying the rebuild.
“Yes, absolutely. That’s going to be the biggest challenge and that’s what I’m concentrating on at the moment. We don’t have the whole group here, but the guys we have here are about changing that mindset and changing the way the players watching. the game, and maybe their roles within it,” he explained.
“Because even with the positions they play, there’s going to be adjustments in how I want them to do things. Again, I love it. That’s why I’m here. If it was just me rolling up, and they go out there, do their thing, wouldn’t that excite me. That’s part of the challenge – it will be a change from the way the club has been playing for three or four years.
“In terms of how quickly the players embrace it, the new players coming in will help. That’s the part I have control over, whether it’s James Maddison or Guglielmo [Vicario] in goal. These are players that fit the direction I want to go in, which helps. Then it’s about seeing with the existing group how many of them are able to adapt and embrace the way we have to play.”
When it comes to Maddison, it’s clear that Postecoglou sees the £40million England international as a major cog in his new machine, and when he was looking for a player like the former Leicester midfielder, he thought why not just get the 26-year-old. himself.
“I’m really excited to have him as part of the group. Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is to have more attacking threats and to have a midfielder who can score and create goals, they is not easy to come by,” he said. “He’s proven himself at that level in the last couple of years as someone who can do it.
“When you look at Tottenham over the last few years, they’ve been really reliant on the front three to get their goals. I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James – even better if we could get James. So we ended up getting James. I was really happy and the fact that we did it early was great because it gives him a break.
“He’s given birth to twins so I don’t know what shape he’ll be in when he gets here! But once we get him in it means he can tour with us and I know he’s really excited to come with the group. He obviously knows a few of the boys and I think he’s at a stage in his career where it feels like he can be a leader, which is also great because we needs players who want to embrace that responsibility in this group, whether it’s their first year in or they’ve been here forever.
“We’re going to need leadership on the pitch and he feels he can be a player to do that.”
Which of the following prospects would you like to see in the first team or loaned out for experience? Swipe to have your say…