Gabbanini explains how the transfer window worked at Spurs behind the scenes with Postecoglou

Leonardo Gabbanini, who departed Tottenham last month, has revealed that it is Ange Postecoglou’s ability to connect with the players on a human level that sets him apart from other managers.

Although Gabbanini joined Spurs as a chief scout last year, he had to take on much more responsibility in the summer after Fabio Paratici resigned from his role as managing director of football.

The Italian worked with Postecoglou during the transfer window on player recruitment, and he explained that he was already aware of the profile of the player that the 58-year-old would want, having studied his work closely before he joined.

Gabbanini, who departed the North London club last month, told The Athletic about Postecoglou: “I studied the coach deeply and I could see that we were dealing with someone different.

“I really appreciated him from the first moment. I did so much research that when he arrived, after the decision of the owner, I felt I already knew him really well.

“He is quick to point out that the research was not only done by him but by the scouting team with whom he worked. We checked his way of football, we checked everything, we focused data and scouting activity on his methods and tactics. So when I brought my ideas in terms of the market, he knew that I understood what he wanted.”

Postecoglou is all about the people at Tottenham

Gabbanini explained that Postecoglou has an unmatched ability to get people on board with his ideas by getting to know what makes them tick.

The Italian said about the Spurs head coach’s impact: “He changes your mentality because you want to follow him. And I wanted to follow him like everyone else. To speak with Ange was amazing because understands the players as people.

“We both have a perception of the man (behind the player), and the secret is to establish if the man is good or not. Afterwards, the player will become a top player because so far every player that Ange touches has improved.”

Having been given a lot more responsibility since Paratici’s exit, Gabbanini also got the chance to work closely with Daniel Levy, and he admitted that the Spurs chairman had the utmost clarity on what he wanted.

The 43-year-old said about Levy: “He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. In this moment of confusion, he was a master because he was clear in his mind what he wanted. He learned from the past and made the change.”

Gabbanini stated that Levy wanted “fresh air and something different” for Tottenham after Antonio Conte’s exit, adding: “I helped him to achieve that because I love when I can change something and make a difference.

“When you work with Daniel, he’s not someone that says, ‘We want to create something but you have time, don’t worry guys,’ He wants to win.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Having departed Spurs, Gabbanini has no need to be overly complimentary about either Ange or Levy. We can be sure that the Italian genuinely means what he says about the Tottenham chairman and head coach.