Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglou was seen grinning at the query regarding his consistent track record of succeeding in his second season in northern London. He responded in his typical straightforward style, “I don’t know. I just have my goals and we’ll see the outcome. It’s not coincidental though. We’ll improve and see where that takes us”.
Postecoglou, who brought astute analysis at Euro 2024 for ITV, oozes positivity and optimism for the approaching season, especially after a considerably uneventful summer when compared to his initial arrival prior to last season’s kickoff. Their first clash is set for Monday night against Leicester.
This time 12 months ago, the club was attempting to keep stable after the dramatic exit of high-scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, amid the tumultuous reign of Antonio Conte. Now, the squad is bolstered with Dominic Solanke, the club’s record signing from Bournemouth for £55 million (€64.5 million) which might surge to £65m, to fill the gap left by Kane. Given a fit and ready squad, it is not surprisingly that the Australian manager envisions an enhanced performance from last season’s fifth position.
While claiming that Postecoglou’s side could clinch the league title is perhaps an overreach, there is an undeniable anticipation amongst the fans that Spurs could put up a formidable fight for a top-four finish. With history on Postecoglou’s side, evident from his time managing South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, the Australia national team, Yokohama Marinos and Celtic, he guided all these teams to league victory in his second season. However, manoeuvring his magic to Premier League will undeniably be his sternest test yet due to the level of competition.
Tottenham cannot be blamed for not investing heavily to support their manager, with the acquisition of Solanke and young talents including Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall. These purchases, which followed the exit of seasoned players like Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, took their new signings expenditure well over £100m. Solanke, who Tottenham pinned their faith on, is the Premier League’s priciest transfer this summer. At 26, he is set to step into Kane’s shoes after his impressive 19 goals for Bournemouth in the previous season.
Postecoglou, speaking about his involvement in the transfers, identified it as minimal. He simply sanctions or refutes the decision. Reiterating his belief in Solanke, he recalled how the player caused Tottenham issues in the past season; problems that eluded other league strikers. His adaptability, movement and scoring abilities were cited as impressive, with his skill set fitting into Tottenham’s play tactics.
More crucially, Postecoglou lauded Solanke’s resolute spirit to get back on top, following the initiation of his career at Chelsea and subsequent move to Liverpool. Postecoglou expressed his delight with Solanke’s journey back to the prominent leagues, after a remarkable season of scoring 19 Premier League goals last year, with this underlining his strong mental capacity.
Liberating Son Heung-min from the central position that proved challenging last term was a primary objective for Postecoglou during this summer. The addition of Solanke and Richarlison’s comeback following a pelvic surgery in the summer brings to Tottenham much-needed offensive capability.
“We suffered most from a lack of firepower up front, despite the injuries at the back last season,” Postecoglou indicated. “Richie performed admirably when he was fit; however, his frequent injuries necessitated Sonny’s move to the inside. It was Brennan [Johnson]’s inaugural year with us. Having Dom and Richie for the upcoming season, both possessing a potent physical presence, is crucial. I believe we are a stronger team with Sonny operating from the left. That’s thrilling – we’re aiming to enhance our game in the last third, and I think the inclusion of Dom helps us achieve that,” he told the Guardian.