Ange Postecoglou said he is keen to finish the season strongly after a ‘mixed’ first campaign at Tottenham.
Spurs return to Premier League action for the first time in two weeks this weekend when the north Londoners take on Crystal Palace. A defeat at home to Wolves last time out dented the club’s top-four hopes and Spurs currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
Postecoglou has won admirers for his attractive brand of football at Spurs but the Australian has been far from content with how a ‘disrupted’ season has panned out for his team.
“Mixed I would say. We had some challenges in there in terms of injuries and disruptions,” Postecoglou said at a press conference when asked to assess the season so far.
“In the most part we have been competitive. Has the football been at the same level as the start of the season? Probably not, but the lads’ effort, will and determination has allowed us to be in position we are in.
“We will try to keep going and finish the season strong, while also keep trying to develop the players and our game style. We will see how that takes us to the end of this season and, more importantly, how it sets us up for the future.”
Spurs face a Crystal Palace team who are under new management in Oliver Glasner, with the Austrian’s reign having began with a 3-0 win over Burnley. Postecoglou was asked for his verdict on facing the Eagles and the potential for new-manager bounce.
“It’s always a bit of a challenge. In our scouting we try to get [an understanding] on the consistency of player [selection] by looking at recent games. With a new manager, things adjust naturally. You usually see that they have a positive effect [on the team performances] when a new man comes in.
“But I still think we are in a good stage in terms of our development. Our emphasis is more on us [rather than the opposition] – on how we are playing football and how we can bring commitment and energy in our game.”
