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Ange Postecoglou confronts Tottenham fan, then gives incredibly frosty press conference

Ange Postecoglou confronts Tottenham fan, then gives an incredibly frosty press conference after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Man City.

The Aussie had a row with a fan behind the Spurs dugout and slammed the state of the club as he lost his temper when speaking with the media.

Defeat meant it ended their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, while for Manchester City, it saw them replace Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and go two points clear of them going into the final day of the season.

In the build-up to the crucial game, Postecoglou was unhappy over suggestions his team and fans wouldn’t mind losing to help prevent rivals Arsenal winning the league.

He said: “I understand the rivalry, but I’ve never and will never understand if someone wants their own team to lose. That’s not what sport is about.”

The atmosphere inside the stadium was rather quiet, even though it was one of the biggest games of the season for both sides.

Some Spurs fans jokingly celebrated City’s goals, some doing the Poznan, which City did at Fulham last weekend.

While on the touchline during Tuesday night’s game, Postecoglou confronted a fan, with video footage posted showing him shouting back.

The 58-year-old boss pointed at a supporter, and said: “what did you say, what did you say before that? Just so I know who you are…”

@SecretPrem tweeted: “I was there, the fan was telling Ange to throw the game throughout the game and eventually Ange lost it at him.”

He hadn’t calmed down by the time he spoke in a press conference after Erling Haaland’s brace defeated Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou full post-match press conference (per Optus Sports)

Reporter: What did you make of the performance today?

Postecoglou: Disappointed to lose. I thought it was a tight game. Big moments for both teams which they capitalised on and we didn’t. That sort of brought the outcome that happened. So disappointed to lose.

Reporter: It was a pretty good performance though, can we talk about the positives of the way you set up?

Postecoglou: Like I said it was a tight game and they’re a top team. I don’t think they dominated us at any point. Probably towards the end we opened up a bit to try to equalise but up until the first goal we were well in the game and in some areas I thought we were dominant. Ultimately if you want to win those games you’ve got to take the big moments. You’ve got to be disciplined and it’s fair to say it’s one of the areas we have let ourselves down in all year. Not capitalising on big moments and lacking in discipline.

Reporter: Were you pleased that you could at least see the foundations of what you’re trying to build in that performance for next season?

Postecoglou: No, I think the last 48 hours has revealed to me that the foundations are fairly fragile mate.

Reporter: How do you mean?

Postecoglou: That’s just what I think.

Reporter: Was it the atmosphere?

Postecoglou: I just think the last 48 hours have revealed a fair bit to me. That’s alright. It just means I’ve got to go back to the drawing board with some things.

Reporter: What did you make of the fans changing ‘Are you watching Arsenal’ after the first City goal?

Postecoglou: I’m not interested mate. I just don’t care.

Reporter: When you say about the last 48 hours, is it inside the club or outside the club?

Postecoglou: Outside, inside, everywhere. It’s been an interesting exercise.

Reporter: Is that to do with the players?

Postecoglou: It’s just my observations mate. I’m not going to tell you, because it’s for me. I’m the one who’s got to do it. You can make your own assessments of what’s happened. I understand. I probably misread the situation as to what I think is important in your endeavour to become a winning team, but that’s ok. That’s why I’m here.

Reporter: Do you think you might have to change your summer plans?

Postecoglou: No. It’s got nothing to do with summer plans. The summer plans are there.

Reporter: Is it tied up with the Arsenal rivalry stuff?

Postecoglou: I’m just not interested mate. Maybe I’m out of step, but I just don’t care, I just want to win. I want to be successful at this football club, it’s why I was brought in. So what other people, how they want to feel, and what their priorities are, are of zero interest to me. I know what’s important to build a winning team, that’s what I need to concentrate on.

Reporter: The fans have roared on the team this season, but a subdued atmosphere today, does that affect the players?

Postecoglou: Of course it does. It is what it is. I can’t dictate what people do. They’re allowed to express themselves any way they want. But yeah, when we’ve got late winners in games it’s because the crowd’s helped us.

Reporter: Has the last 48 hours steeled you in terms of what you want to do?

Postecoglou: I already know what I want to do, it’s just I’ve got to make some adjustments to how I do it.

Reporter: Mikey Moore, was that a reward for a good season of progress?

Postecoglou: He’s been training well with us, we wanted to get him some game time, it just hasn’t panned out in the last few games, it was an opportunity to just get him out there. He’s still got a long way to go, he’s only 16, he’s a great kid. It’s a reward, because we’ve had him training with us and he hasn’t been playing with the U21s either, we thought it wouldn’t be fair to not reward his hard work with an appearance.

Reporter: Did you expect Sonny to score when he goes through?

Postecoglou: Yeah, you’d back on Sonny but the big moments we didn’t come up with today. It wasn’t just him. Kulusevski a couple times, we had some decent chances and I was real disappointed with their first goal. We just lacked some discipline again and it’s kind of been the story of our season where we haven’t capitalised on big moments and we’ve lacked some discipline in our football. Again, that’s stuff we just need to keep trying to improve.

Reporter: Bentancur was very angry when he came off, were you okay with that?

Postecoglou: I didn’t notice. Don’t care.

Reporter: Were you happy with the application of players?

Postecoglou: Well I think, unless I was watching a different game, we matched it with the best team in the land for the last four years, unless someone saw it differently.

Reporter: No, I agree – just asking…

Postecoglou: Why wouldn’t I be happy if we’ve matched the team that is kind of the benchmark. I don’t understand. So, yeah I was happy with the application. Of course I was. That was evident.

Twitter users gave their reaction after Ange Postecoglou confronts Tottenham fan, then gives an incredibly frosty press conference…

@liamkay1986: Spurs fans let their team down last night. Very odd behaviour. The demise of arsenal was more important to them than their own success. Tin pot mentality.

@JarrieSam: This ‘fan’ should be ashamed of himself

@ShaySpurs: Seeing this video puts Ange’s press conference into context. I’d be absolutely raging too. Whoever that fan was is a fucking helmet. If you want your team to lose, don’t show up to the game. Imagine having to listen to that behind you all game. Last night was all kinds of weird

@ReeceDSport: Manager loses head after being told to throw the game relentlessly. How surprising. Good on Ange

@NUFCThreatLevel: I’d be concerned..

@JoeW192911: Massive 👏 to Ange for his reaction to the fans and post-match interview! Calling out the Spurs club and fan mentality to being happy to lose a game just to prevent Arsenal from winning the title is simply not right. Ange knows this must change or Spurs will never gain success ⚽️

@thebhoysteesh: This is what the big man left us for. Serial losers who would rather lie down to city to stop their rivals winning the league than challenging for champions league football. This tweet pretty much sums it up, embarrassing

@mufcag90: Absolutely embarrassing that any fan would actively root against their own club getting a top 4 finish just to stop a rival winning the league. Support your team no matter what

@LeLouvre: That spurs fan was probably there for many years before Ange and will be there til he dies when Ange is off professing loyalty to another club. Ange, mate with his kitchen sink philosophies should fuck off back to the minor leagues. #THFC

@supermintyone: Back Ange. Tonight was just a horrible scenario. Always want Spurs to win. COYS

@JimmyBCSpurs: Who is he raging at? Levy? The players who have been on holiday for 6 months? Himself for his woeful selections? Surely not the fans? The ones that come every game to be disappointed by his failure to grasp the small details. What a plonker #THFC #COYS #LevyOut

@StephenDuncan81: Nice to see there’s some honesty in the game – pity Ange didn’t get the fan ejected

@MarkusDearden: Embarrassing fan behaviour that. Rooting for city 😵‍💫😭🤦🏼‍♂️

@Lolo2106: And that’s probably a season ticket holder! So sad. Big Ange needs to go to a better club

@rbn3poi: Ange is a decent guy. It is unacceptable to wish for your team to lose, even if it is to denigrate a rival team.

@JB_SoccerCoach: No wonder Spurs never win anything. Horrible mentality from the fans, imagine being so preoccupied with what your rivals are doing you want your own team to lose. You play to win. Simple. Ange deserves better than this. #TOTMCI

@avfcbreaking: Ange Postecoglu telling off a Spurs fan for cheering on Man City If I was him I’d resign! You want fans and players to buy into the elite club status! Villa have been on a journey as one, that belief carries you in moments of need! #AVFC

@THFCSpurs20: That’s actually pathetic from the fan. Can’t be saying that right at him

@Napbac22: Makes sense, he’s employed to make sure we are in a position to win every game, fella was basically telling him to not do his job

@Callumtmorgan1: Nothing wrong with his reaction imo. Man’s a professional

@NatChatsBall: Honestly, their most “successful” night this season was wanting to lose a match, getting knocked out of the CL, told they need counselling, they’re fragile and to fuck off by their own manager. Don’t ever compare yourself us. Your club is the EPITOME of LOSER.

@s7nnys: if we’re not stupid he’s gonna take us places

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