Ange Postecoglou insists Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is not unhappy at Tottenham Hotspur, despite the Australian choosing to drop the midfielder from his starting line-up for the first two games of the new season.
After a disastrous campaign last year, it was clear that something had to change rather drastically at Tottenham this term.
The appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the club’s new manager raised some eyebrows at first, but the coach has quickly won over the Spurs fans and the media alike.
The 57-year-old has instilled a fresh sense of optimism around the club with his penchant for attacking football.
A new formation has seen recent signings slot into the squad effectively, but with that, has come the displacement of previously established stars.
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
One player who seems to have been pushed down the pecking order is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. So far this season, it has been down to Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr to partner Yves Bissouma in the centre of midfield for the Lilywhites.
It has even been suggested that Hojbjerg is a player that the club is actively looking to sell this summer (Daily Mail).
Does Hojbjerg still have a role to play at Spurs?
Speaking to the press (via Football.London), Postecoglou was asked about the decision to sideline Hojbjerg and what it means for his role at the club.
He said: “He’s training well. I get that people want to read into that, but if you want to change you have to change. You can’t keep doing everything the same and expect a different outcome.
“It’s pretty obvious. I’ve always done that wherever I’ve gone. Unless I change things, personnel or staff or manner of playing, then what am I doing?
“I’m definitely not that arrogant to think that just me walking in is going to give us success. You have to actually make meaningful change. That’s what the club wanted. By appointing me, I presume they wanted to go in a different direction. Then it’s about making those decisions that institute change.
“Does it bring more out of people? Pierre, he trains really hard every day. I thought he played a really important role coming on for us against Man U the other day. I haven’t seen that it’s diminished his role or he’s not happy.
“Hopefully, you’ve got a couple of players in every position that are pushing each other every day to be the best they can be.”
Spurs Web Opinion
This is really reassuring as I was hoping we would keep hold of Hojbjerg, and it sounds like Postecoglou doesn’t necessarily want him to be sold.
Obviously, anything can happen between now and the end of the transfer window, but I reckon Hojbjerg would rather stay and fight for his place.
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