‘Like Guardiola at Barcelona’ – Postecoglou receives glowing review from his old rival

Spanish coach Ricardo Rodriguez, who locked horns with Ange Postecoglou in the J-League, has no doubt that the Australian will succeed at Tottenham if he is given time.

While a lot has been made of Postecoglou’s success at Celtic, with the Glasgow giants winning five of the six trophies on offer during his two seasons in charge, his work in Japan was arguably even more impressive.

The 57-year-old guided Yokahama Marinos to their first J-League title in 15 years back in 2019, beating out much more fancied teams to the prize, and he did so playing champagne football.

Rodriguez, who had a hugely successful six-year stint in Japan, has spoken about his experience of taking on Postecoglou’s Marinos side soon after he had taken charge of Urawa Red Diamonds in 2020.

The 49-year-old compared the kind of football that Marinos played under the new Tottenham head coach to Pep Guaridola’s Barcelona, speaking in glowing terms of how the Aussie changed the club’s mentality.

Postecoglou receives glowing review after Spurs move

Rodriguez told The Daily Mirror: “In two pre-seasons, we played his teams and I suffered! It was high energy, pressing and they were so difficult to stop.

“I was in Urawa and he was in Marinos and his Marinos team and had a level of maturity, we were just starting and he said to me: ‘we won the game, but keep going, but you are making good progress.’

‌”You can feel his mentality. When Pep Guardiola came to play Marinos here in Japan, you can see why Pep talked well about Postecoglou. It’s not just about how you win but the feeling you give to supporters

“The job he did here was very good. The first year he created a base, it took time and then he was just amazing in his second season.

“More than two goals per game, a lot of possession, he changed the mentality, mindset and way of playing. Postecoglou was up against teams who had won a lot of titles and he broke that.

“In the year he signed for Celtic, he did well again and created a great mentality. ‌He was successful for the Australian national team. Then he won titles at Celtic. But it was the way of playing which was so impressive.

“All the time, they recover the ball, and create a lot of chances, it’s a bit like Guardiola at Barcelona.

“They recover the ball, all the time attacking and he was incredible. ‌I read that he’s got a four-year contract at Tottenham and he will be given time and I feel sure that he will be successful.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The one clear pattern over Postecoglou’s career is that he struggles to get results straight away as the players take time to adapt to his way of playing and to acquire the kind of mentality he demands.

So, it is likely going to take half a season for things to click into gear at Tottenham.

It is thus imperative that the club and the fan base are patient and do not jump on the 57-year-old’s back as soon as we lose a few matches.