Ange Postecoglou insists Tottenham looked more like themselves despite suffering a defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur’s three-game winning run in the Premier League came to an end on Wednesday night, as Manchester City secured a narrow 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A 12th-minute strike from Erling Haaland proved to be the difference, sealing the game for the reigning champions.
Wednesday’s defeat was the Lilywhites’ thirteenth of the season and their seventh home loss, leaving them in 13th place in the Premier League table, 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.
Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham looked more like Tottenham
While the result was another setback, Ange Postecoglou remained resolute in his belief that his side delivered a performance that was more in line with his footballing philosophy.
The Australian manager took encouragement from their intensity, particularly in the second half, and believes such displays should become the norm.
Speaking to Football.London, Postecoglou said: “It is disappointing to lose again, and that is the main feeling. It did look more like us today, at least from my perspective.
“We were really relentless. We played aggressive football. We took it to a very good opponent. We never tapered off at all. If anything, like you said, bringing the guys on made us stronger towards the end of the game.
“Disappointing to lose, but I think you see the benefit of us being refreshed and going into a game well-prepared. That level of performance in the second half—if we can begin to get consistent with that—then we will be able to push on.”
Can Spurs maintain consistency with returning players?
Of course, Tottenham Hotspur’s performances in recent weeks have greatly improved, aided by a lighter schedule and the return of key players from injury.
The extra rest has allowed Postecoglou’s side to regain some fluency, but the reality is that top clubs in modern football do not have the luxury of relying on extended breaks.
A truly elite side must be capable of maintaining high levels of performance every three days. That is the demand of the modern game.
While Spurs looked sharper against City, it remains to be seen whether they can replicate such intensity on a regular basis. Postecoglou’s emphasis on rest and preparation is understandable, but it is not a long-term solution.
With the Europa League still up for grabs, Spurs must find a way to sustain these levels week in, week out, and also get a win.