Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, was asked if he could replicate his historic second-season triumph in North London, to which he simply replied, “Dunno”. With a history of successful second seasons across his managerial career, his answer kept the spectators in suspense, reflecting his usual straightforward style. Following a quiet summer compared to the turmoil of his initial entry, the Australian football veteran exhibited a clear sense of optimism for the upcoming season and the opening match against Leicester on Monday.
The previous year was marked with the major move of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, leaving Spurs in need of a new attacking force. However, now, the club seems optimistic after securing Dominic Solanke as their record signing from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £65 million. Consequently, Postecoglou sees a promising season ahead for Spurs, hoping to rise from their previous fifth-place finish.
The idea of Spurs lifting the trophy might be a far-fetched thought; however, with Ange’s track record of five club victories in his second season spells, a top-four finish could be attainable. His career includes successes with South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Australia’s national team, Yokohama Marinos, and Celtic. But, the 58-year-old coach acknowledges the difficulty of translating this success to the Premier League due to tough competition.
Tottenham have been far from frugal in supporting their manager, having invested heavily in purchasing Solanke along with youngsters Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. This has resulted in them spending in excess of £100m following the exits of seasoned players such as Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. However, it’s in Solanke, whose transfer fee made him the premiere league’s priciest acquisition this summer, that Postecoglou holds the most investment of trust. As a 26-year-old, he is expected to step up to replace Kane after netting 19 goals for Bournemouth the previous season.
Discussing his minimal yet decisive role in player signings, Postecoglou said that he has the final say and if players are on the team it’s because he deems them fit. He firmly believes that Solanke proved his mettle against his team the past season, proving a challenge that was not often encountered from other forwards in the league. He lauds Solanke’s agility and swift movement and its impressiveness. Being a team known for their pressing game, Solanke’s remarkable work ethic matches perfectly. Additionally, his ability to strike varied types of goals serves their game well.
Somewhat more essential, Postecoglou also appreciates Solanke’s eagerness to claw his way back to the top-tier of the game, having begun his career at Chelsea before transferring to Liverpool. There’s admirable determination in the player, who despite not having the best time at the big clubs, persevered and bounced back powerfully.
In conclusion, Postecoglou said that he understands people and their motivations, and Solanke’s career trajectory displays his resilience. He applauds him for his noteworthy effort to score a remarkable 19 goals the previous season and land himself back at a renowned club. The manager knows the player has the right mindset.
Postecoglou prioritised relocating Son Heung-min from the central role he found challenging last season. This action was facilitated by the acquisition of Solanke and Richarlison’s return to match fitness following a pelvic surgery over the summer, thereby boosting Tottenham Hotspur’s attacking prowess considerably.
“Despite the severe injuries we endured in our defensive line last year, I firmly believed our most apparent shortfall was at the offensive end and that was where improvement was highly necessary,” shared Postecoglou. “Performance-wise, Richie was exceptional when he was on the pitch, but frequent injuries meant that Sonny had to be deployed centrally. Also, it was Brennan [Johnson]’s initial stint at the club. Starting the season with Dom and Richie’s physical prowess to our advantage appears crucial. With Sonny occupying a wider left position, our team’s dynamics have improved significantly. That’s the thrilling part – we’re focused on enhancing our performance in the attacking third, and Dom’s arrival signifies a positive step in that direction.” – Guardian