
Spurs star trio back Postecoglou amid job speculation
James Maddison has thrown his weight behind "winner" Ange Postecoglou as speculation over the Tottenham boss' future continues.
The 28-year-old midfielder backed his head coach after seeing his qualities at close hand as he inspired his side to Europa League glory courtesy of a 1-0 final victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United in Bilbao.
Speaking at his invitational charity golf event, Maddison told Sky Sports: "He's a man who's always had success. His biggest strength is his self-belief in what he does and that feeds off on to us and that's been installed into us in Europe this year.
"In all the away games and even in all the ones early in the group stages and the round of 16 - we had a really bad performance away at AZ Alkmaar, and he went heavy on us because you just know he's a winner, and then we turned it around second leg and we're in the quarters.
"Every step, we got closer and closer and we believed more and more and now we're winners and no one can ever take that away from him."
Maddison added: "He's been brilliant. Even at the start of the season saying, 'I don't usually win things, I always win things', it's one of them.
"We knew that would create a big uproar in the media with you lot never shutting up about it. Never once did I stop believing that he meant that."
Postecoglou admitted he has found it "weird" that he was under pressure after ending the club's 17-year wait for a trophy, although a 17th-placed league finish prompted questions, despite his admission that he turned his focus to Europe as the campaign progressed.
However, he also received support from midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray at the same event.
Asked if he wanted him to stay, Bergvall said: "A 100 per cent, I think he's done a great job.
"It's not been easy for any of us, especially because of all the injuries, but as he said, he always wins things in his second year and that's true."
Gray was equally unequivocal when asked if Postecoglou deserved another season at the helm.
He said: "Yes, definitely. It's been a great season this year and it's been a rollercoaster of a season as well, not just at the end.
"We've obviously had some really tough times and we stuck together. He's big on things like family and I think the main thing that helped us get to the final and win the final is our morals of what we're like as a team.
"Family is our main thing. We believe in each other and it's like brothers going out there on the pitch in the final and we just fought for each other."
James Maddison has thrown his weight behind "winner" Ange Postecoglou as speculation over the Tottenham boss' future continues.
The 28-year-old midfielder backed his head coach after seeing his qualities at close hand as he inspired his side to Europa League glory courtesy of a 1-0 final victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United in Bilbao.
Speaking at his invitational charity golf event, Maddison told Sky Sports: "He's a man who's always had success. His biggest strength is his self-belief in what he does and that feeds off on to us and that's been installed into us in Europe this year.
"In all the away games and even in all the ones early in the group stages and the round of 16 - we had a really bad performance away at AZ Alkmaar, and he went heavy on us because you just know he's a winner, and then we turned it around second leg and we're in the quarters.
"Every step, we got closer and closer and we believed more and more and now we're winners and no one can ever take that away from him."
Maddison added: "He's been brilliant. Even at the start of the season saying, 'I don't usually win things, I always win things', it's one of them.
"We knew that would create a big uproar in the media with you lot never shutting up about it. Never once did I stop believing that he meant that."
Postecoglou admitted he has found it "weird" that he was under pressure after ending the club's 17-year wait for a trophy, although a 17th-placed league finish prompted questions, despite his admission that he turned his focus to Europe as the campaign progressed.
However, he also received support from midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray at the same event.
Asked if he wanted him to stay, Bergvall said: "A 100 per cent, I think he's done a great job.
"It's not been easy for any of us, especially because of all the injuries, but as he said, he always wins things in his second year and that's true."
Gray was equally unequivocal when asked if Postecoglou deserved another season at the helm.
He said: "Yes, definitely. It's been a great season this year and it's been a rollercoaster of a season as well, not just at the end.
"We've obviously had some really tough times and we stuck together. He's big on things like family and I think the main thing that helped us get to the final and win the final is our morals of what we're like as a team.
"Family is our main thing. We believe in each other and it's like brothers going out there on the pitch in the final and we just fought for each other."
James Maddison has thrown his weight behind "winner" Ange Postecoglou as speculation over the Tottenham boss' future continues.
The 28-year-old midfielder backed his head coach after seeing his qualities at close hand as he inspired his side to Europa League glory courtesy of a 1-0 final victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United in Bilbao.
Speaking at his invitational charity golf event, Maddison told Sky Sports: "He's a man who's always had success. His biggest strength is his self-belief in what he does and that feeds off on to us and that's been installed into us in Europe this year.
"In all the away games and even in all the ones early in the group stages and the round of 16 - we had a really bad performance away at AZ Alkmaar, and he went heavy on us because you just know he's a winner, and then we turned it around second leg and we're in the quarters.
"Every step, we got closer and closer and we believed more and more and now we're winners and no one can ever take that away from him."
Maddison added: "He's been brilliant. Even at the start of the season saying, 'I don't usually win things, I always win things', it's one of them.
"We knew that would create a big uproar in the media with you lot never shutting up about it. Never once did I stop believing that he meant that."
Postecoglou admitted he has found it "weird" that he was under pressure after ending the club's 17-year wait for a trophy, although a 17th-placed league finish prompted questions, despite his admission that he turned his focus to Europe as the campaign progressed.
However, he also received support from midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray at the same event.
Asked if he wanted him to stay, Bergvall said: "A 100 per cent, I think he's done a great job.
"It's not been easy for any of us, especially because of all the injuries, but as he said, he always wins things in his second year and that's true."
Gray was equally unequivocal when asked if Postecoglou deserved another season at the helm.
He said: "Yes, definitely. It's been a great season this year and it's been a rollercoaster of a season as well, not just at the end.
"We've obviously had some really tough times and we stuck together. He's big on things like family and I think the main thing that helped us get to the final and win the final is our morals of what we're like as a team.
"Family is our main thing. We believe in each other and it's like brothers going out there on the pitch in the final and we just fought for each other."
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News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Staggering dressing room push could save Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham career
Tottenham chair Daniel Levy will speed up his decision over whether Ange Postecoglou will remain Spurs manager with a call now expected to be made this week, according to reports. Sky Sports in the UK reports that Postecoglou — who is on holiday in Europe — is expected to learn his fate in the coming days despite initial reports saying he'd have to wait until next week. The report comes amid growing support from the playing group with defender Pedro Porro the latest to publicly express his backing of Postecoglou. 'Him continuing would be good for the dressing room. He has built a very good group and coaches also need time,' Porro told The Guardian. 'In the league things didn't go well but he made us win a trophy. That's important too. 'The people in the dressing room with weight have to understand that.' Porro's support echoes similar displays from fellow players Cristian Romero and James Maddison, who said Postecoglou has 'been brilliant' and should stay. Nonetheless, Postecoglou remains at serious risk of losing his position due to a domestic campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th after suffering 22 defeats. Postecoglou explained that he had to heavily prioritise the Europa League, which Spurs won over Manchester United to clinch the club's first trophy of any kind in 17 years. But Levy must now decide whether that glittering night in Bilbao justifies one of the worst domestic campaigns that the club has endured in the Premier League era. Levy is set to return from holiday this week when he will reportedly make his decision. The decision was described by Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solheko on The Transfer Show as 'one of the hardest decisions Levy has had to take since he's been at Spurs'. 'If you go with your heart, you stick with Postecoglou because he won a trophy. However, if you go with your head, you look at the Premier League table and I still can't believe Tottenham finished 17th,' Solhekol said. 'Under normal circumstances, that would be totally and utterly unacceptable. 'There's no question the manager would lose his job, but he won a trophy. 'It's a debate for another day perhaps, the quality of the Europa League this season. The fact the Champions League has expanded, and teams weren't dropping down, but a trophy is a trophy. A European trophy is a European trophy.'

Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘He's an absolute born winner': Liverpool legend backs Ange
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has decreed soccer needs Ange Postecoglou, and he hopes the Australian coach remains in the English Premier League for a long time to come, even if Tottenham Hotspur end his time as manager. The former Reds striker played for North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory and coached Brisbane Roar, before COVID-19 disruptions and issues with club ownership resulted in his departure after 22 games. It was during his Fury season in 2010-2011 that Fowler first encountered Postecoglou, who coached the Roar to both the premiership and championship. Postecoglou has faced mounting calls to be sacked as Spurs plummeted to 17th place in the Premier League this season, but victory in the Europa League final provided a potential lifeline for the under-siege Australian. Fowler believes the Europa League triumph should give Spurs a strong reason to keep Postecoglou but even if they axe him, Fowler remains a huge fan. 'You will get people who write him off because a club that size should be getting better results,' Fowler said. 'But I'm not one of those people. I've followed his career all the way from Brisbane and he's an absolute born winner. 'He's an incredible manager; someone the game needs. You see his expertise in his coaching and in his press conferences. He's someone I've got a lot of time for.

The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
‘He's an absolute born winner': Liverpool legend backs Ange
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has decreed soccer needs Ange Postecoglou, and he hopes the Australian coach remains in the English Premier League for a long time to come, even if Tottenham Hotspur end his time as manager. The former Reds striker played for North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory and coached Brisbane Roar, before COVID-19 disruptions and issues with club ownership resulted in his departure after 22 games. It was during his Fury season in 2010-2011 that Fowler first encountered Postecoglou, who coached the Roar to both the premiership and championship. Postecoglou has faced mounting calls to be sacked as Spurs plummeted to 17th place in the Premier League this season, but victory in the Europa League final provided a potential lifeline for the under-siege Australian. Fowler believes the Europa League triumph should give Spurs a strong reason to keep Postecoglou but even if they axe him, Fowler remains a huge fan. 'You will get people who write him off because a club that size should be getting better results,' Fowler said. 'But I'm not one of those people. I've followed his career all the way from Brisbane and he's an absolute born winner. 'He's an incredible manager; someone the game needs. You see his expertise in his coaching and in his press conferences. He's someone I've got a lot of time for.