After Spurs thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk in their latest pre-season friendly, you would think Ange Postecoglou would be happy, but James Maddison has revealed the coach had stern words for his team at half-time.
In their first home game under Ange Postecoglou, the Lilywhites ran riot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against their Ukrainian opposition. With a final score of 5-1, it’s safe to say the attacking football Postecoglou promised is coming to fruition.
Harry Kane bagged four goals in the rout against Shakhtar Donetsk, while young striker Dane Scarlett also netted on his return from injury.
Spurs took the lead late in the first half thanks to a penalty which was won via some neat play by James Maddison, and converted by Kane.
However, the North London side went in at the break level, after Shakhtar’s Kevin Kelsy beat Ben Davies in the air to nod home an equaliser past Guglielmo Vicario.
Ange Postecoglou wanted more at half-time
Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game, Maddison detailed the instructions from his manager, with Postecoglou demanding his team don’t take their foot off the gas.
He said: “He’s relentless with his messages the gaffer. At half-time, he wants us to go do it more. He doesn’t want us to score and almost take our foot off the gas.
“He had a few words to say at half-time about a foot on the throat almost, don’t be happy to just be 1-0 up, go for two, go for three.
“That’s why we came out so hot and firing in front of goal. It’s still such a learning period for us with the new manager, so we’ll keep trying to nail that.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Spurs have lacked that killer instinct and relentlessness in the past and it’s cost us dearly, so it’s good to hear the new manager is keen for us to put games to bed and not stop pushing for more when we are winning.