James Maddison has admitted that the way Ange Postecoglou wants Tottenham to play suits his attributes perfectly, as the Australian demands that his players be willing to take risks on the ball.
Spurs’ approach this season has been the polar opposite of the style they employed under Antonio Conte, where the focus appeared to be on making as few mistakes as possible and capitalising on opposition errors.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammate James Maddison after scoring the team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 13, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
In stark contrast, Postecoglou has seemingly given the Tottenham players the freedom to make mistakes, with Maddison revealing that the 58-year-old demands bravery on the ball even when they give it away.
Maddison told The Evening Standard: “The way he wants to play suits me perfectly because it’s how I see football. That’s how I would want the game to be played I think if I was manager, so I’m fulfilling that as a player.
“He likes players who can take the ball and be brave and bravery is not always just flying into a tackle or shouting at someone. Bravery is having the balls to take the ball and if you give it away, go and take it again.”
The other big change from the Conte era has been in the way Tottenham press, with the forward players even pressing the opposition goalkeeper in an effort to win the ball high up the pitch.
Postecoglou wants Tottenham to press very high
Maddison explained Postecoglou’s rationale in asking his attackers to do the leg work in the final third. The 26-year-old said: “The gaffer wants to press high and I’ve been pushing up with whoever’s played as the number nine.
“He says, ‘What’s the point in not pressing high and sitting off? Then if they play long, you have to run back anyway.’ So it is the same amount of running but you might win the ball – and the perfect example of it was my goal [against Burnley] at the weekend.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While we have looked absolutely terrific in building from the back and pulling the opposition players out of shape, our pressing structure still seems like it needs some work.
I fear that technically proficient teams such as Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Brighton would play through our press easily and punish us.
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