Ange Postecoglou addresses negative narrative at Spurs, talks about creating winning culture
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Published 03/05/2025 at 11:13 GMT+1
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou believes the narrative surrounding the club is "negative", even after a positive result in the UEFA Europa League semi-final. "There’s always some sort of negative connotation to everything that happens at the club," he said ahead of Spurs' clash with West Ham on Sunday. The Tottenham boss also confirmed Lucas Bergvall is out for the season.
Late Bodo/Glimt goal 'doesn't reflect' Spurs' dominance in first-leg win - Postecoglou
Video credit: SNTV
Ange Postecoglou has again hit out at some of the criticism surrounding Tottenham Hotspur, despite the club being on the brink of reaching a European final.
"If you expect something to go wrong, it will," he told reporters ahead of Spurs’ Premier League encounter away at West Ham on Sunday.
Languishing in 16th position, they have little to play for domestically.
But Thursday night’s 3–1 semi-final win over Bodo/Glimt puts them in a strong position to reach the UEFA Europa League final, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disappointing season.
Even with European success a distinct possibility, Postecoglou has spoke about a "negative narrative" at the club.
"People are their experiences and Tottenham supporters have had some near misses for a long time, so there’s always this safeguarding of not getting too excited about what’s happening.
"But part of creating a winning culture is not to fall into that trap.
"Winners don’t think about things in that way, they don’t think about what could possibly go wrong - they have a real clarity around what they need to do to win, and I’m trying to create that with that group of players.
"The narrative around the club is not positive at all.
"Whether you follow the club or not, there’s always some sort of negative connotation to everything that happens at the club. That’s existed for a very long time, you need to break through that."
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Pressure has been mounting on Postecoglou for months.
The last major trophy Spurs won was 17 years ago  -  the League Cup in 2008.
Asked about the culture surrounding Tottenham Hotspur, Postecoglou was keen to highlight that it is not necessarily internal.
"I don’t know if it’s a culture at the club, it’s a culture around the club and the narrative around the club," he said.
"If you accept that, then you’re kind of self-prophesying around what’s going to happen  -  I don’t accept that.
"We’ve got ourselves in a good position to get to a final and we’ve got to treat that on its merits.
"There’s no point dwelling on what’s happened in the past  -  it can’t guide your future."
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Highlights: Early goals help Spurs to crucial first-leg victory over Bodo/Glimt
Video credit: TNT Sports
James Maddison was influential in their midweek European win, but was forced off in the semi-final due to injury.
Postecoglou noted it as a "concern", adding that the midfielder is set for a scan ahead of the return leg. It is unclear whether he will be fit enough to feature.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Lucas Bergvall will miss the rest of the season because of his injury.
Spurs will have four days to recover after facing West Ham on Saturday before their decider against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday 8 May, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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